http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Tarun-Nethula-c2647 excited at prospect of debut in home state – Cricket News Update
Indian-born New Zealand leg-spinner Tarun Nethula has expressed his excitement at the prospect of earning a chance to make his Test debut in the city of his birth, as the Black Caps prepare to face off against India for the first of two Test matches in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Hyderabad-c792.
"It would be a bit of a fairytale if I do get to play in Hyderabad. It's a big thing and quite a proud moment and a lot of my family still reside there," said Nethula.
"There are a lot of people where I was born that would give an arm or a leg to play international cricket - and a lot more - so it's a great opportunity."
Born in Kurnool, just out of Hyderabad, Nethula revered cricketers in Hyderabad's http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754.
He made his first-class debut for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Canterbury-c775 at Rangiora in November 2008, and has since gone on to play a total of 32 first-class matches, with 89 wickets to his credit. He made his debut for the national side earlier this year, during
an ODI series against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Zimbabwe-c3045 in February, and has played 5 one-days for the national side.
A Test debut appeared to be on the cards during the Kiwis’ recent tour of the United States and the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/West-Indies-c760, but the opportunity did not materialise.
However, with a 2-match Test series against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 looming on the horizon, and veteran spinner Daniel Vettori’s absence from the line-up owing to injury, Nethula (who has been named in New Zealand’s 15-man Test squad) could be in line for a Test debut in
his home state.
In addition to Nethula, right-arm off-spinner http://www.senore.com/Cricket/JS-Patel-c1747 has also been named in the squad, following a string of impressive performances in the domestic circuit. The 32-year-old, who poses stiff competition for Nethula, has also played 13 Tests for the
national side.
A chance to feature in the playing XI for the first Test, due to be played from August 23 to 27 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Uppal, Hyderabad, could prove to be a dream debut for Nethula, as he faces off against a line-up which includes childhood
hero Laxman.
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