A string of notable performances with the India A team helped Sadagopan Ramesh get into the national senior side. India A coach K Srikkanth strongly advocated his inclusion and the selectors decided to give the left hander from Tamil Nadu the big break in his hometown of Chennai against Pakistan in 1999. Displaying two qualities that should be uppermost in any opening batsman - courage and big match temperament Ramesh was an instant success. He played the pace of Wasim, Waqar, Shoaib and the spin of Saqlain and Mushtaq with equal felicity. Even though he ran up a Test average of 50 plus in his first half a dozen Tests, there were cynics who pointed out to his faulty footwork and awry technique. Some detractors also said that he would never get runs away from the sub continent and would fade against the pace bowlers on the faster and bouncier pitches.' Taking up the challenge, Ramesh proved that he could get runs in any conditions and while he did not exactly set the Yarra River on fire, he did enough to show that he is here to stay. He and Shiv Sundar Das have the makings of a long-term opening pair for the country.