Sanjay Manjrekar, a former batsman for India, believes that England is the clear favorite to win the Lord’s Test after their incredible comeback in the last day’s play. He believed that because England will start Day 5 with a relatively new ball in hand, their odds of victory could reach 70%.
On Sunday, July 13, during an exciting Day 4 of the third Test match between India and England at Lord’s, 14 wickets were lost. With Washington Sundar scoring 4-22, England was bowled out for 192 in 62.1 overs as they resumed their second innings at 2-0. Team India had a rough start when chasing 193, falling down 58-4 by stumps on Day 4.
During a conversation on ESPNcricinfo, Sanjay Manjrekar suggested that England has a good chance of winning the Lord’s Test due to the way the new ball performs in the first session of play. He clarified:
“Yesterday, I firmly believed that there was no way India could lose this match. The only loser possible was England and a drawn scenario. But I believe now England are favorites. I would say 70-30 in England’s favor, only because this ball is still hard and new. We saw what happened in that morning session when India bowled on that pitch. This pitch reacts to the new ball.”
Sanjay Manjrekar
The 60-year-old went on to say that India is still in the game. However, he believes that in order for the visitors to chase down the score, KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant will need to bat particularly well. Manjrekar stated:
“If England are forced to go to Shoaib Bashir, it means India is winning the game. That will happen only if Pant and KL Rahul bat out of their skins. I only worry with one aspect. Because this young batting line-up has done so much of batting, the mental reserves of their batting has been tapped into so heavily, this effort is going to be a mental effort.
Sanjay Manjrekar
“The target is small, so there will be a huge temptation to take the additional risk. I just want India to grind away and get to the target,” the former batter concluded.
Sanjay Manjrekar
KL Rahul was batting at 33 at stumps on Day 4 at Lord’s. The nightwatchman, Akash Deep, was dismissed for one in the final over by Ben Stokes.
England stun India with big strikes on Day 4 at Lord’s
Team India would have been ecstatic with their bowling effort after dismissing the hosts for 192. Their happiness was short-lived, though, as England responded brilliantly with the ball.
Jofra Archer’s back of length delivery undid Yashasvi Jaiswal (0). By shouldering arms to a ball from Brydon Carse that came back in, Karun Nair (14) ruined his prospects of prolonging his Test career. Carse also trapped opposition captain Shubman Gill leg before for six, dealing India a severe blow before stumps.
