Butcher believes Washington Sundar bats like a top-order player.
Cricketer-turned-commentator Mark Butcher is mightily impressed with Indian all-rounder Washington Sundar's batting skills given that he is used as a bowling all-rounder coming in at no. 7. He believes that the youngster can create competition in the Test team and give the likes of Ravindra Jadeja and Hardik Pandya a run for their money.
Washington Sundar scored an unbeaten 85 against England in the first innings with lower middle-order wickets falling at the other end. He played some classical drives to the likes of Dom Bess and Jofra Archer on Day 4 and looked like a top-order batsman.
Mark Butcher said on Star Sports Network, "He’s (Sundar) a fabulous player. If we didn’t know that he’s coming down the order and No. 7 and that he’s picked mainly for his bowling, you’d say he is a top-order player. Wonderful strokes to spin out of the rough, to Jack Leach. It became a trademark of the innings. He’s a pretty talented young man."
Butcher is happy with how Sundar latched on to every loose delivery from Dom Bess early in the morning on Day 4. However, he still wants the 21-year-old to perform with the ball.
If Sundar performs better with the ball too, then he surely is a competitor of Ravindra Jadeja and Hardik Pandya according to the former cricketer.
Butcher said, "He didn’t allow Dom Bess to get away with any poor deliveries this morning. Dom Bess looked a little tired. That was one of the shots of the day, that beautiful on drive off Jofra Archer. The balance was perfect, the head was right over the ball. That was perfect."
"I mean, the guy can really play. People may just be hoping that he plays some part with the ball in hand. He was a bit disappointing in the first innings, but if he can get that going, then what an all-rounder you’ve got there. Somebody to challenge or replace Ravindra Jadeja," he added.
(With inputs from Hindustan Times)