S Badrinath loves to challenge the typecast image of the Tamil Nadu cricketer.

S Badrinath loves to challenge the typecast image of the Tamil Nadu cricketer. Or so it seems. He has often shown that, unlike many batsmen from his state, he brings a solid temperament to the crease. But, more interestingly, he has also showcased his frustrations at being continuously ignored with a no-holds barred statement against the selectors.

The batsman with the upright stance had a phenomenal time last season carving out seven hundreds in 16 first-class matches. He scored 1448 runs, averaging a stupendous 90.50. He left none in doubt that he knew a thing or two about the art of building an innings and was blessed with a gift that was alien to a line of strokeplayers from Tamil Nadu.

Indeed, from being labeled a mere grafter, Badrinath did well to turn things around by adding strokes to his repertoire and adapting to the demands of limited-over cricket. He had become mentally tough as well, believing more in himself. He thought he had done enough for the selectors to take note of his claims and reward him with an India cap.

With the golden quartet firmly ensconced in the middle-order, it has not been easy for a whole generation of batsmen to break into the Indian Test side. He may be hampered by the tragic reality of modern cricket that the route into the Test squad seems to be through the one-day internationals.

Badrinath had to draw attention on himself by telling the selectors in so many words to give him the chance to fail. Upset that younger players like Manoj Tiwary and Virat Kohli had got into the one-day squad ahead of him, he was a picture of anger when he said that no selector had told him why he hadn't been picked.

As his luck would have it, Sachin Tendulkar pulled up injured during the final Test in Sri Lanka and the 28-year-old was flown in as his replacement for the one-day series. When he did get to play for India, he was quickly able to demonstrate the calm countenance and steely grit that he had become quite well known for in the domestic circuit.

But then, his four most recent first-class innings – three of which have been on live TV – have not been the most complimentary. He made 10 against Australia A in Bangalore, 16 and 36 for Rest of India against Delhi in the Irani Cup at Baroda not looking very comfortable against Ishant Sharma's pace in either innings. Then, he fell for just 2 to Peter Siddle in Board President's XI match against the Australians in Hyderabad.

Unfortunately for Badrinath – and so many others of his generation – selectors don't seem to grant them the gift of time to cement a place in the Test side. It appears that the concept is quite antiquated in the contemporary times when instant gratification is the order of the day. It remains to be seen how they handle Badrinath.

Having been around for more than eight seasons and led Tamil Nadu and South Zone in the last two seasons, he will be well aware that the likes of Yuvraj Singh and Mohammed Kaif have been in and out of the Indian middle-order without being able to seal a permanent place for themselves – and now find themselves on the sidelines.

The chances of his getting a look-in in the first Test appear remote and there can be no guarantees that those on the reserve bench will be given a fair run before the selectors sit in judgment over their fates. Witness, Rohit Sharma. He was on the tour of Sri Lanka as the reserve batsman but has been kept out of the squad to do duty against Australia.

It is not as if Badrinath is unfamiliar with such erratic behaviour. He has himself been in and out of the Indian dressing room before – wearing the sky blue of the one-day team when Australia toured India last year for a series of one-day games. How his stint with the Test squad goes remains to be seen.

He has shown a willingness to learn from peers – as he did with Michael Hussey during the Australian's time with the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL competition – and it can only stand him in good stead if he soaks in each word from Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman and Sourav Ganguly.

It will be interesting to watch him make the most of opportunities that come his way. And work towards becoming one of India's batting bulkwarks of the coming generation. That will be when he will truly break the mould of Tamil Nadu batsmen mildly making their presence felt in the Indian Test team.