India’s best chance to win Test series against ‘ordinary’ Australia: Engineer
Former India wicketkeeper Farokh Engineer was quite confident on Tuesday when asked about Virat Kohli & Co’s chances in the upcoming Test series against Australia. He termed Australian side as ordinary team with absence of Steven Smith and David Warner. Smith and Warner were suspended for 12 months for ball-tampering in South Africa in March. The four-Test series begins in Adelaide on December 6.
“Australia have got two big names missing — Smith and Warner. When you take two big names out of your [playing] XI, the team is weakened considerably. India will never have chance of beating Australia. Australia are pretty ordinary team at the moment without these two players. We should make best of the opportunity,” Engineer said while speaking at Parsee Gymkhana during the announcement of the second edition of ‘1886 Trophy’ in which Surrey will take on all-Parsee team on December
1 in Mumbai.
Engineer, who represented country in 46 Tests, also hailed Kohli’s captaincy. “India are playing very good cricket. They have great captain in Virat Kohli who is doing superbly well. We have got good all-round side with good pace bowlers, good spinners. So lets take advantage of that and beat Australia at their home,” he added. However, the flamboyant right-handed batsman Engineer was surprised to know 33year-old wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel’s inclusion in the squad along with youngster Rishabh Pant. He feels more young wicketkeepers should be given chance at the highest level but backed Parthiv. “Is he [Parthiv] in Australia? I am very happy for Parthiv but what about young guys? Unfortunately we produce batsman-wicketkeeper these days not wicketkeeper-batsman. In my time you have to be wicketkeeper first because you can’t let your side down with your wicketkeeping. You can score 50-60 runs but if you drop two-three catches, it will cost you 200-300 runs.”
When asked about who should be given chance in the playing XI, Engineer opted for Rishabh. “I would always go for youngster Rishabh who has shown a lot of promise in batting. Parthiv is still fit at this age, so the best wicketkeeper should be playing in Test match.”
The 80-year-old cricketer, who has represented World XI against England and Australia in 1970 and 1971 respectively, also expressed disappointment on not receiving the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) most prestigious award, Col CK Nayudu Award for Lifetime Achievement. “I don’t know if they have committee [to nominate person for the award] or not but I think I deserve that award. I’ve promoted cricket not only in India but internationally. I feel bitter that I’ve been ignored. I don’t know for what reason, who I have upset.
“I was the first Indian to play for the World XI. Wouldn’t you feel grieved that people who have achieved far less [than you] are on the list.”