Mumbai: After stealing the show with a confident knock of 93 for India A against the touring England team, Manoj Tiwary said on Tuesday that he was ready for the grind of Test cricket.
There is stiff competition for No. 6 spot in the Indian team and with Tiwary compiling a determined half-century, the selectors might have a sweet headache before making their final selection.
“I am ready for Test cricket. There is competition for the No. 6 spot, but it’s up to the selectors. I will try my best. Let’s see what happens,” said the Bengal captain at the post-play media conference.
The 27-year-old, who has played only eight ODIs in four years since his debut, said he was very happy with the way he had played, even if he missed out on a century.
“I am quite happy with my performance, though, I am disappointed for missing out on my hundred. I wanted to stay at the wicket. I was definitely waiting for an opportunity,” said Tiwary, who batted for 202 minutes and faced 150 balls.
Tiwary, who was dismissed by Tim Bresnan with the second new ball, said that the wicket was a bit slow but England had a quality attack at their disposal.
“They are a quality attack but did not try to go all out. The wicket was a bit slow,” Tiwary said.
He also sounded a warning to the rival batsmen, saying that the Indian spinners would be a handful for them in the four-Test series starting on November 15.
The Bengal skipper said he had no issues encountering off-spinner Graeme Swann and left-arm spinner Samit Patel.
“Swann is a top class bowler. I was picking up his flight and trajectory well,” he said.
Besides Tiwary, both Abinav Mukund (73) and Yuvraj Singh (59) both made half-centuries on the day.
England were handicapped by the right thigh injury sustained by pacer Steven Finn while fielding. Finn, who bowled just four overs, went off the field after being hurt in the opening session.
Both Bresnan and Swann picked up three wickets each. (PTI)