Sanjay Manjrekar Blames Batsmen for England Tests Failure

Former India cricketer and current commentator, Sanjay Manjrekar blamed the batsmen for the poor show for the team’s 1-4 loss in the Test series against England.

However, Sanjay Manjrekar praised the Indian bowlers for their excellent job to bring back India on track.

“Interestingly, it was the batting that let India down this time (in England), the bowlers kept getting India back in the match, and the batsmen kept letting those chances slip,” Manjrekar said while delivering the ninth Dilip Sardesai Memorial lecture at the Cricket Club of India.

Moreover, Manjrekar has blamed the defensive technique of the Indian batsman. India had lost 1-2 against South Africa and 1-4 against England in this year.

“It wasn’t temperament that was letting these batsmen down. In South Africa and in England it was purely a technical problem, specifically defensive technique,” Sanjay Manjrekar added.

In addition to that, Sanjay Manjrekar proposed for the day-night Test match.

It can gain a lot of viewers and popularity which will help the players to energise themselves on the filed.

 “The only way to get more people to watch Test cricket, increase its viewership, popularity, and thereby it’s quality is day-night Test matches,” said Manjrekar.

“Why aren’t we playing more day-night Test matches, when it’s a no-brainer that it will draw more viewership,” Manjrekar wondered.

The veteran also said the players are choosing T20 leagues over Test cricket. However, the Indian Premier League (IPL) has gained a lot of popularity in India as well as outside.

“Today’s Test cricket is played in front of empty stands and IPL in front of frenzied crowds of 50,000 plus and millions watching on TV,” Sanjay Manjrekar said. “It’s about playing the IPL (Indian Premier League) at all cost; player injuries surface before and after the IPL. IPL offers you fame and money and who will say no to this?”

“Also Test cricket is just too damn hard, so it’s no wonder that many are choosing T20 leagues over Test matches,” Manjrekar concluded.