Sport - Cricket

Manoj Tiwary confident of good show

Kolkata: Buoyed at his return to the Indian squad after nine months, dashing Bengal batsman Manoj Tiwary is confident of putting up a good show if he gets a chance in the team during the tri-series in Australia.

“I knew all along that opportunities will again come sooner or later, and I have to grab them. I am not feeling at all nervous,” Tiwary told PTI after he was selected as a cover-up for Yuvraj Singh for the tri-series.

Stylish left hand batsman Yuvraj is nursing a knee injury and would be taken to an orthopaedic surgeon in Melbourne on Tuesday.

Tiwary, who got the news from CAB joint secretary Samar Pal, said he had already sent his photos and passport to Delhi for the visa requirements of the Australian High Commission.

“I’m a strong person mentally. I am very much prepared for the international outing. I’m just waiting for the green signal from the authorities to board the flight,” he said.

“If I get an opportunity to play in Australia, I am prepared to give more than 100 per cent,” said the young talent, who was earlier kept as a stand-by for the series when the selectors announced the team a week ago.

Tiwary said for the last one week he had been practising intently keeping in mind the fast, bouncy wickets in Australia.

“I have been practising with wet tennis balls and synthetic balls. I am toning up my bowling also, so that I can be of use to the team if the captain hands me the leather,” he said.

The promising cricketer was included in the Indian squad for the tour of Bangladesh last May, but had to return from the neighbouring country without playing a single game after injuring his right shoulder during the nets.

Earlier this month, Tiwary attended a five-day fitness test-cum camp at the Bangalore-based National Cricket Academy under the supervision of Dav Whatmore, a trip which he said was very productive. The Australian had asked Tiwary to go for a side-on stance. — PTI

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