Sanjay Manjrekar

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Sanjay Manjrekar India (Ind)
Batting style	Right-handed batsman (RHB)
Bowling type	Off spin (OB)
	Tests	ODIs
Matches	37	74
Runs scored	2043	1994
Batting average	37.14	33.23
100s/50s	4/9	1/15
Top score	218	105
Overs bowled	2.5	1.2
Wickets	0	1
Bowling average	n/a	7.5
5 wickets in innings	0	0
10 wickets in match	0	N/A
Best bowling	0/4	1/2
Catches/stumpings	25/1	23/0
As of 8 December 2005 Source: Cricinfo.com

Sanjay Vijay Manjrekar pronunciation (help·info) (born 12 July 1965 in Mangalore, Mysore) is an Indian cricketer who never quite lived up to his potential at the highest level, averaging 37.14 in his 37 Tests between 1987/88 and 1996/97, as opposed to an overall first-class average of 55. He is the son of Vijay Manjrekar.

Manjrekar's favourite team to bat against was Pakistan, whom he had a Test average of 94 and two Test centuries. He made his double-century against Pakistan in Lahore. His first notable performance at the international level came in the 1989 series against the West Indies in the West Indies. He made a century against a powerful, menacing bowling attack and gave glimpses of his immense potential. He then batted in Bradmanesque fashion in the series against Pakistan in 1989. He notched up a century and double century in that series and was instrumental in India drawing the series 0-0 against a bowling attack that conisted of Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Imran Khan and spin wizard Abdul Qadir. This series cemented his position as the premier batsman in the Indian side. His technique was impeccable and he had notched up big scores in adverse conditions. Sadly, Manjrekar never lived up to the potential evidenced in this series. He failed to make an impact on the 1991-92 away series in Australia. Much was expected of him since he was deemed to be technically adept at handling the Aussie bowlers on fast, bouncy pitches. Inspite of appearing to middle the ball well, he could not come up with big scores. His next international century came after a 3 year gap against Test debutants Zimbabwe in 1992. He occupied the crease for several hours and saved India from embarassment against the minnows of Test cricket. The Indian cricket team then travelled to South Africa for the South Africans' first Test series after the end of apartheid. India lost the Test series and performed abysmally in the one day series. Manjrekar yet again failed to produce any big scores. When the team for the 1993 England series was announced, Manjrekar was dropped. Even though it was a collective failure by the entire Indian team, the selectors, perhaps in search of a scapegoat, seemed to have found one in Manjrekar. Once the premier batsman in the side, Manjrekar was now reduced to a Test discard.India won this series handsomely and most Indian batsmen helped themselves to big scores on friendly Indian pitches. From this point onwards, Manjrekar was in and out of the side for the next 2-3 years, never assured of a settled existence. The emergence of new batting talents such as Rahul Dravid and Saurav Ganguly effectively ended Manjrekar's chances of getting back into the team. After the selectors snubbed him for the 1997 series against the West Indies, Manjrekar bowed out of international cricket. In retrospect, it can be said that Manjrekar was a player of immense talent, impeccable technique, impressive pedigree(his father Vijay Manjrekar was an accomplished batsman for India) who sadly failed to live up to his potential. Some say that he was so infatuated with technique that he forgot his main job of scoring runs. His underachievement and departure from cricket is a loss for cricket fans. Manjrekar is currently a commentator for ODI and Test Cricket matches. A man of many talents, he also recorded a music album, in which he sang quite impressively.

[edit] External link

Player Profile: Sanjay Manjrekar from Cricinfo

[edit] References