Farokh Engineer slams India's batting performance on day 1 of the Old Trafford Test

Farokh Engineer (R) felicitated during India’s tour of England in 2011

Former Indian wicketkeeper Farokh Engineer has lambasted the Indian team after their horrendous display with the bat gave England a massive advantage in the 4th Test match at Old Trafford, Manchester. The visitors, who won the toss and chose to bat, found themselves at 8/4 within the first 5 overs of their innings, with Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli all being dismissed for ducks.

Batting was a joke

While MS Dhoni and R Ashwin salvaged some pride with some runs later on in the innings, but it wasn’t anywhere near good enough as they were bundled out for 152.

Engineer was critical of Dhoni’s decision to bat first on a track bristling with pace and bounce and labeled the performance from the Indian top-order as a joke.

"No person in his right mind would win the toss and bat on a pitch like this. Our bowlers can match England's bowlers. Stuart Broad, James Anderson, Chris Woakes and Chris Jordan are a handful in these conditions, but the Indian bowlers have shown they can deliver too. The momentum was with England (after their victory in Southampton) and it was up to us to take the fight back to the English camp. The way we batted this morning and decided to bat, was a joke," Engineer told NDTV.

Valuable experience not sought

The 76-year old, who had a long-standing stint with Lancashire and knows the conditions at Old Trafford like the back of his hand, was disappointed that nobody from the team management came to consult him for advice on how the Old Trafford pitch has historically played.

"India were playing a Test at Old Trafford after 24 years. It was all shambles this morning. India had the advantage after winning the toss on a fast pitch. There was plenty of grass. I have played here all my life and know every blade of grass at Old Trafford and no one bothered to ask me for advice.

"I would gladly do it for my country. It was almost embarrassing (to see the batting debacle). India could have batted better. I would blame the management. Doesn't Duncan Fletcher talk tactics in the dressing-room? India's approach mind-boggling," said Engineer.

Pitch is no excuse for poor display

Although the conditions in the 1st session were tough for batting with the ball jagging around at good pace, Engineer said that there was no excuse for losing a cluster of wickets as the Indians did. He said that the batsmen were guilty of poor technique as they went chasing outside off-stump rather getting behind the line of the ball and playing close to their body.

"There is no excuse for losing all those wickets. It was not very sensible batting. You have to come behind the ball and play. They needed good technique to bat on this wicket. Even Dhoni gave a couple of chances.

"We were chasing the ball outside the off-stump. Our batsmen are not experienced in English conditions," he concluded.