Manjrekar, Roberts remembered at Kotla

NEW DELHI: While watching the Delhi-Pakistan match at Ferozeshah Kotla Friday, former India Test opener Parthasarthi Sharma recalled facing former West Indies fast bowler Andy Roberts on debut. He also remembered Vijay Manjrekar, the ex-India batsman on whom he modelled his batting.

Sharma, who made his Test debut against the West Indies at Kotla in 1974, said he learnt a lot by watching Manjrekar bat.

"He was a big influence on me. I modelled my entire batting on him," Sharma, who played five Tests between 1974 and 1977, said.

Sharma holds Roberts, whom he faced while scoring 54 and 49 on debut in December 1974, in high esteem, especially his deceptive bouncers.

"Roberts had two bouncers, one that went straight past your face, without deviating, and another one that followed you as you tried to leave the bouncer," he said, demonstrating with his head.