Former Indian cricketer-turned-commentator Sanjay Manjrekar insulted Australian women players by questioning their grace during an ICC World Cup 2017 match against India. But Australian wicket-keeper Alyssa Healy hit back at him by calling his insight “completely unfair and very poorly timed”.
This makes me really mad. Completely unfair and very poorly timed. Why are you trying to drag our game down as well? Happy to discuss this with you in person instead of you just throwing these comments out there.
— Alyssa Healy (@ahealy77) March 28, 2018
Manjrekar called for trouble himself. He recalled a ‘sight’ on Twitter on Thursday where Indian player Harmanpreet Kaur played an epic 171 runs bout. Manjrekar found lack of grace in the Australian players during that match. He wrote, “At the end of the innings, not one Australian player waited for Kaur to leave the field first. Forget applause, there was not even an acknowledgement of one of the greatest performances seen in women's cricket".
“Instead, the Aussie women were seen walking away like an army battalion whose pride had been hurt and could not wait to get back on the front & teach the 'enemy' a lesson".
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“As it turned out, Australia lost that game easily".
“Australian players for some reason are convinced that showing grace on the field makes them weaker as opponents, when actually there is no connection between the two, as it was seen in this Women's game," Manjrekar ended his note".
“This makes me really mad. Completely unfair and very poorly timed. Why are you trying to drag our game down as well? Happy to discuss this with you in person instead of you just throwing these comments out there.”
Needed to get this thought out. pic.twitter.com/0Pi1Uq9fYe
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) March 28, 2018
Netizen’s across the board criticized Manjrekar’s ill-timed Tweet as top Australian players are dealing with infamous ball-tampering issue. The Tweet also saw a stinging response from Healy who wrote back, “This makes me really mad. Completely unfair and very poorly timed. Why are you trying to drag our game down as well? Happy to discuss this with you in person instead of you just throwing these comments out there.”
You have raised a valid point, but the timing of this tweet is poor. You should have said this during the women's world cup, not when the Australian cricket is going through a dark phase. This is a classic example of kicking a man when he is down.
— Sushant SK (@sushant_SK6) March 28, 2018
NOT COOL SIR!?
I am sorry to say but you are an embarrassment to Indian cricket
— umesh (@Haywire29) March 30, 2018
I feel it is really not necessary to get appreciation from opponents. After all, no one is playing for them. If such a gesture is shown, it will be extra special. But the fact that it should happen just because it is in your script ain't correct.
— Venkat Karthik (@vketkeeper) March 29, 2018
She is also the niece of the great Ian Healy and wife of current Aussie pace spearhead Mitchell Starc.
Another Australian player, Mel Jones also supported Healy’s point and said, “We will agree to disagree on this one & no doubt chat further Sanjay but this is way off the mark. First on timing & linking to recent events, 2nd on questioning the long established quality reputation of a team base on one incident adjudged from afar.”
We will agree to disagree on this one & no doubt chat further Sanjay but this is way off the mark. First on timing & linking to recent events, 2nd on questioning the long established quality reputation of a team base on one incident adjudged from afar.
— Mel Jones (@meljones_33) March 28, 2018
Picture credit- Alchetron