“Australia [are] so fragile with their batting lineup” – Sanjay Manjrekar backs India bowlers to deliver again in BGT 2024-25 2nd Test
Former batter Sanjay Manjrekar has backed India's bowling unit to deliver in the second Test of the five-match series against Australia in Adelaide, which starts on Friday, December 6. Manjrekar reckoned that Australia were “fragile” with the bat after the hosts were bundled out for 104 and 238 in the two innings of the first Test in Perth.
The top four batters, including Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne, departed cheaply in both innings. Australia’s new opener Nathan McSweeney failed to deliver on his debut, scoring 10 and a duck.
Labuschagne, in particular, is undergoing a lean patch with the bat in Tests. The right-handed batter perished for 2 (52) and 3 (5), respectively. It's worth mentioning that Smith has moved back to No. 4 after his stint as a makeshift opener in Tests.
Manjrekar told ESPNcricinfo:
“India bowling will keep getting back into the game considering Australia so fragile with their batting lineup. So even if pink ball gives them a completely different challenge and because they have a good track record, it’s just that the Indian bowling attack and the Australian batting lineup makes for it a very unpredictable affair because the bowling will keep getting India back in the game.”
The cricketer-turned-commentator warned India about being too ambitious in the day/night Test considering Australia's 100 percent win record in pink-ball games.
“Considering India won the last Test you can’t be saying [it with] certainty that India will win this one as well because it’s a completely different ball game. The pink ball actually gives Australia some hope, gives them an opportunity to come back.”
“Indian batting was going through a bit of transition” – Sanjay Manjrekar on India’s 36 all out in last pink-ball Test vs Australia
Sanjay Manjrekar further stressed why India flopped in the previous pink-ball Test against Australia in Adelaide. He said during the same interaction:
“The big difference between the last Test match that India played against Australia (in Adelaide) the pink ball Test match, Indian batting was going through a bit of transition. There were quite a few players, Virat Kohli played well in that game but others were having their own issues and the ball swinging around. There were batters that struggled.”
“I think India batting is a little better placed now but more importantly the bowling attack will give no respite to the Australian batters. So, I expect Indian batters some of them to be troubled by it,” he added.
Team India were bundled out for 244 and 36 in their two innings in their previous Test in Adelaide on the 2020/21 tour. Virat Kohli scored 74 off 180 balls in the first essay. Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane also chipped in with their 40s. None of the batters scored in double digits in the second innings as the hosts won by eight wickets.