Scoring hundred by a no. 9 batsman is not easy : Farokh Engineer
by Bipin Dani


Scorecard:India v England
Player:J Yadav, FM Engineer
Event:England in India 2016/17

DateLine: 12th December 2016

 

Mumbai, Dec. 11 : Former India stumper Farokh Engineer saw his own Test record of highest runs by an Indian batsman at no. 9 position (90 runs against New Zeand at Chennai 1965) being broken by Jayant Yadav at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday.

 

"I have no regrets and I congratulate Yadav for his hundred", Engineer, settled in United Kingdom, but now on a visit to Mumbai, said exclusively.

 

"It is not very easy for a number 9 batsman to score so many runs, mainly for two reasons. One, the number 9 player is generally not a recognized batsman and secondly, many a times he loses partner to hit the century".

 

"Yadav had a good support in Virat Kohli, who too played superbly and he boosted relatively a newcomer. Both deserve kudos for playing good cricket and entertained the Sunday crowd", Engineer added.

 

On a few occasions, Engineer batted at number nine but he had also opened India innings in Tests.

 

Grand-mother passes away

 

All family members of Jayant Yadav could not watch his maiden Test hundred.

 

The 27-year-old Yadav had lost his grand-mother (age related issues) earlier this week.

 

Yadav's mother, Jyoti, was in Gurudwara in Jullundhar paying homage to her mother, who died on Friday.

 

"I have heard Jayant has scored a century but could not watch him play because of demise of my mother", she said exclusively.

 

It is quite possible Jayant may dedicate his first Test hundred to his grand-mother.

 

He will certainly not forget to call his second mother Jyoti, whom he forgot while naming on his ODI shirt and had only put the name of his mother Lakshmi, who had died in a plane-crash few years ago.

 

(Article: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author only.
Copyright © 2016 Bipin Dani)