Cricketer-turned-expert Sanjay Manjrekar criticized all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja for being ineffective with the ball in hand on a turning Day Five pitch in Leeds against England in the first Test. The southpaw failed to pick a wicket in the second innings, as the hosts easily chased 371 runs on a pitch that was not flat for batting. The veteran, who was the sole spinner selected in the team, was ineffective, which, as a result, hurt India the most.
While the southpaw scored 11 and an unbeaten 25 in the second innings, his primary job was to take wickets or contain runs. However, the all-rounder failed to do both, and that did not please Manjrekar, who felt the veteran should have had more impact in the game.
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"Funnily enough, the pitch did not offer any lateral movement to India's seam bowlers. Even Bumrah could not get anything out of the surface. Nothing in the air as well," Manjrekar said on Star Sports.
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"Plus the fact that Duckett is tremendous against Bumrah and has one of the best records against him and Jadeja. I don't think he's even dismissed by Jadeja, and he has faced him at home as well. So when you have an English batter who is very good against two of your frontline bowlers, then you are set for a win."
Ravindra Jadeja failed to use the rough on the Day Five pitch: Manjrekar
The former batter further stated that Ravindra Jadeja failed to make use of the rough, which was on offer on the Day Five pitch in Leeds.
"There was rough for him to work with. And in the end - yes, there were a couple of chances - but we have to expect more from Jadeja. These are not typical English wickets. This isn't a pitch that offers nothing. I thought he did not use rough effectively enough against Ben Stokes. He did later, but against Duckett, it came very late in the innings. From experienced bowlers and against experienced batters, you expect more.
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