But Stuart, son of former Test cricketer and 1983 World Cup winning hero Roger Binny, has other talents and it is precisely this allround flair that has found favour with the selectors when they chose the Indian ODI team for the forthcoming tour of New Zealand.
The relatively tall and well-built Binny is a hard-hitting late middle order batsman whose prowess with the willow has fetched him seven centuries and 11 fifties (prior to the current Ranji match against Delhi) in first class cricket.
He has a well organized defence but it is the punch he carries in his shots that marks him out as a special talent. Binny, like some of the current crop of forceful batsmen, does not hesitate to hit over the top and his inside-out shots over covers against the left-arm spinners are a particular joy to behold.
Besides his aggressive batting, Binny is also an enthusiastic fielder. Additionally, his brisk medium pace bowling marked by the ability to swing the ball both ways will be a huge asset in New Zealand where the pitches are expected to be responsive to his type of bowling.
Binny made his debut for Karnataka in 2003 before joining the rebel ICL league where he honed his skills with Hyderabad Heroes and Indian XI. On accepting the BCCI amnesty, he turned out for Mumbai Indians in IPL. He did not find success in the limited opportunities on the field, but off it his romance with TV sports presenter Mayanti Langer blossomed to the extent that they tied the knot in 2012.
However, his progress as an allrounder came while representing Rajasthan Royals in IPL where captain Rahul Dravid and director of cricket, former Mumbai opening batsman Zubin Bharucha, nurtured his talent and boosted his confidence.
This, and his continued success in Ranji Trophy for Karnataka, has chiseled him into the allrounder that Indian cricket has been desperately looking out for.
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