Roger Binny is a former Indian cricketer and was part of the Indian team that won the Cricket World Cup in 1983. He was the first Anglo-Indian cricketer to play for India. He is primarily an all-rounder with the ability to lower down the order and bowl at medium pace. In addition, he is also an agile fielder.
Wiki/Biography
Roger Binny was born on Tuesday, 19 July 1955 (age 67 years; in 2022) in Bangalore (now Bengaluru), Karnataka. His zodiac sign is Cancer. During his childhood, he played football and hockey for his school and also held the national record in Javelin Throwing.
Physical appearance
Hair Color: Gray
Eye Color: Brown
Family
Parents & Siblings
Not much information is available about his parents & siblings.
Wife & Children
Roger Binny married Cynthia.
Roger Binny’s wife, Cynthia
This couple is blessed with a son and two daughters. His son, Stuart Binny is also a former Indian cricketer.
Roger Binny’s son, Stuart Binny
Her daughter-in-law’s name is Mayanti Langer who is a sports anchor.
Roger Binny’s son-in-law, Mayanti Langer
The names of his two daughters are Laura Binny and Lisa Binny.
Roger Binny’s daughter, Lisa Binny
Roger Binny’s daughter, Laura Binny
Signature/Autograph
Roger Binny’s signature
Career
International Debut
Test
He made his Test debut on 6 December 1980 against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground
ODI
He made his ODI debut on 21 November 1979 against Pakistan at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore
Record
- India’s only father-son duo to feature in the cricket World Cup and third overall
- Third cricketer to open the bowling and bat in the same match in ODIs
- The first Indian to finish the World Cup as the highest wicket-taker
- Third best bowling average in Tests by an Indian
- Second best strike rate in tests by an Indian after Chetan Sharma
- Fourth best economy rate in ODIs by an Indian
Statistics
Bowling Statistics
Test
Match- 27
Innings- 38
Surplus- 478.2
Virgin- 76
Runs lost- 1534
Wicket- 47
BBI- 6/56
BBM- 8/101
Average- 32.63
Economy- 3.20
Strikeout Rate- 61.0
5w- 2
10w- 0
One International Day
Match- 72
Innings- 67
Surplus- 492.5
Virgin- 37
Runs Defeated- 2260
Wicket- 77
BBI- 4/29
Average- 29.35
Economy- 4.58
Strike Rate- 38.4
4w- 3
5w- 0
Batting Stats
Test
Match- 27
Innings- 41
Not Exit- 5
Runs Scored- 830
Highest Score- 83*
Average- 23.05
100s- 0
50s-5
0s- 7
One International Day
Match- 72
Innings- 49
Not Out- 10
Runs Scored- 629
Highest Score- 57
Average- 16.12
Ball Faced-
Strike Rate- 1046
100s- 0
50s-1
0s- 4
Domestic/State Team
Initial Phase
He played his first first-class match against Kerala in Raichur at the age of 20. He did not make it in that match but in the following season, he scored 71 runs and took 4 wickets against Maharashtra. In that season, he emerged as the top scorer with 563 runs, including 174 runs against Andhra in his home state. He scored an unbeaten 211 in a first-class match against Kerala earlier in his career when he shared a 451-run partnership with wicketkeeper Sanjay Desai for the opening wicket. Karnataka declared an innings without losing a wicket. It was a record at that until Ravi Sehgal and Raman Lamba broke it in 1994-95.
Roger Binny’s bowling action
He then made his international debut against Pakistan in 1979 when he scored 46 runs and took the team’s score to 411. However, he could not do much with the ball and ended the spell without taking any wickets. In the next match against the same team, he took 2 for 32, and 2 for 56 in both innings respectively. He took the crucial wickets of Imran Khan and Zaheer Abbas in the match. His ODI debut was against Australia in the Benson & Hedges World Series Trophy in 1980 where he impressed with the ball. Australia all out for 142 runs, Binny taking 2 wickets for 23 runs in the match. In the next match, he took 4 wickets for 41 runs.
1983 Cricket World Cup
In the 1983 Cricket World Cup, he took 18 wickets at a strike rate of 29.3.
India’s 1983 Cricket World Cup squad. Binny 2nd from left standing
In the match against Australia in the group stage, he took 4 wickets for 29 runs and helped India reach the semi-finals. In an interview, he recalled the 1983 World Cup final, he told,
“After we were bowled out for 183, we knew we had messed it up. The mood in the dressing room was not good and we had a long lunch break and that meant we had more time to reflect. But before we left, Kapil made a speech. He said, ‘The match is not over and if we can be beaten for 183 we should try and beat them at a lower price.’ That gets us fired up.”
He took the crucial wicket of their captain Clive Lloyd and scored 21 runs in the final of the 1983 World Cup, which helped India win the World Cup. In an interview, he said,
“Lloyd had been injured in the previous game, and Kapil came to me and said, ‘He’s stuck at the crease and can’t move, just bowl a bit and force him to drive.’ I did exactly that and Lloyd was gone.”
Roger Binny after dismissing West Indies’ Clive Lloyd during the 1983 Cricket World Cup final
In the league match against the West Indies, he dismissed wicketkeepers Jeff Dujon, Clive Lloyd, and Vivian Richards which helped India defeat the West Indies for the first time in a World Cup. He then took 3 for 27 against Zimbabwe which India won by 31 runs. In that match, he held a crucial partnership of 60 runs for the sixth wicket with Kapil Dev. It is said that Kapil Dev’s 175 runs would not have been possible without that partnership. In an interview, he recalled,
“What I remember clearly is that I had no time to rest all that time! Usually, after we finish practice and the first two batsmen go on, I’ll go to the canteen, grab some tea or coffee and watch the first few courses, relax and sip whatever the drink is. But that day, I barely got my tea and came back, to find that we were two down! I was actually wearing my training clothes at the time. As I ran to change, the third wicket fell. Before I could even put my pad on, the fourth one fell off! We were nine for four, and then 16 for five when I walked. I am batsman number 7. My mind is empty: I plan nothing and have no disconnected strategy. Kapil Dev was still there as I continued my journey. I still remember the first words he said to me: ‘Stay!”
In the next match against Australia, he scored a crucial 21 runs and took 4 wickets which earned him the ‘Player of the Match’ award. Then came the semi-final where he took 2 wickets and helped India reach the finals.
Roger Binny at the 1983 World Cup reunion on 25 June 2008 during the 25th anniversary with Sunil Gavaskar, Syed Kirmani, and Yashpal Sharma
Final Phase
His first performance with the bat was against Pakistan at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, Madras (now Chennai) in September 1983. India were 85 for 6 at one stage when Binny came out to bat and had a crucial partnership of 155 runs along with Madan Lal. He scored 83 runs which helped India score 275 runs in the first innings. The match ended in a draw. Against a strong West Indian line-up in 1983-84, he dismissed Gordon Greenidge, Desmond Haynes, and Vivian Richards to end his spell with 3 wickets for 18 runs in 6 overs. He then scored 39 runs in Kanpur, 32 in Delhi, 65 in Mumbai, and 44 in Calcutta (now Kolkata). In the 1985-86 World Series, he took 4 for 35 in the opening match followed by 1 for 33 against England, 3 for 27 against Australia, and 1 for 28 against New Zealand in the semi-final. However, he missed the final due to injury. He finished the series as the second-highest wicket-taker behind Laxman Sivaramakrishnan and the second-best bowling average after Joel Garner. He had his best Test match bowling performance against England at Headingley in 1986 when he took seven wickets in both innings and helped India win the match by 279 runs. Later in the 1986 tour of England, he impressed with four wickets at Lord’s and 5 for 40 at Leeds with the important wickets of Mike Gatting and Allan Lamb. He then scored 40 runs against England at Edgbaston in the third test. His career best performance was against Pakistan at Eden Gardens (Kolkata) in 1987 where he took 6 wickets for 56 runs. However, despite that performance, he could only bowl three more overs in his Test career. Due to an ankle injury, he missed the fourth Test at Motera. He was later selected for the 1987 Cricket World Cup where he could only play one match against Australia on 9 October in Chennai. There he took one wicket of Australian captain Allan Border. After that performance, the selectors picked Manoj Prabhakar and Chetan Sharma ahead of him to help Kapil Dev as the opening bowler. He retired from international cricket in 1987. However, he continued to play domestic cricket till 1992.
After retirement
After retirement, he coached India’s Under-19 team which won the World Cup in 2000 under the leadership of Mohammad Kaif. In 2009, he was appointed as the coach of the Bengal team in the Ranji Trophy. He also remained the national selector of the Indian cricket team in 2012.
Roger Binny as BCCI national selector
In October 2019, he became the President of the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA).
BCCI President
On 18 October 2022, he assumed the charge of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), replacing Sourav Ganguly.
Controversy
Nepotism Controversy
He was heavily criticized for nepotism and favoritism when his son Stuart Binny was selected in the Indian side when Roger was the selector. However, he revealed that every time the decision to hire Stuart was made, he left the room and let the other selectors make the decision.
Facts/Trivia
- His son Stuart Binny is also a right-arm fast bowler who holds the Indian record for the best bowler in ODIs taking 6 wickets for 4 runs against Bangladesh in 2014.
- It is also said that Roger Binny’s ancestors came from England.
- On December 24, 2021, a Bollywood movie named ’83’ was released which was based on the story of India winning the 1983 Cricket World Cup. In the movie, Nishant Dahiya played the role of Roger Binny.
Nishant Dahiya as Roger Binny
Categories: Biography
Source: SCHOOL TRANG DAI
