‘Glad Jadeja didn’t play till last Test’
On India’s last tour of England in 2014, Ravindra Jadeja’s lone fifty and nine wickets in four Tests got lesser attention than the clash with James Anderson in the corridor leading to the Trent Bridge dressing rooms, which played out for most of the series.
In this series, Jadeja’s role had been limited to that of a substitute fielder until R Ashwin’s groin injury presented him an opportunity in The Oval Test. In the first three days, the all-rounder has taken five wickets and scored 86 not out to stamp his presence.
England are 154 runs ahead with eight second innings wickets in hand and India’s slim hopes of a consolation win could depend on Jadeja on a wearing pitch.
He followed his 4/79 in the England first innings by joining forces with debutant Hanuma Vihari (56) to revive India on Day 3. It showed India had missed a trick by not playing a second spinner in the fourth Test at Southampton where Moeen Ali’s nine wickets bowling off-spin proved decisive while India, playing an unfit Ashwin, lost by 60 runs in the end.
England assistant coach Paul Farbrace said the Jadeja-Vihari seventh-wicket stand of 77 runs was frustrating on Sunday morning. “There was a chance dropped before that last partnership got going, but to be fair to Jadeja, he played magnificently well.
“He’s an exceptional cricketer, a dangerous cricketer – with bat, ball and in the field – we would
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probably be reasonably happy he’s only played in this last game.
“He’s a fantastic cricketer and he showed that again – dangerous with the ball, gets important wickets, brilliant in the field and a high-quality batter.”
MISSING CENTURY
Jadeja missed his maiden century after last man Jasprit Bumrah was run out, but England are hoping Alastair Cook gets one in his farewell innings. He will become the fifth Test batsman to score a century on debut and the last innings if he gets one.
“It’d be fantastic, wouldn’t it, if he was to get to a hundred?” said Farbrace. “I think he’s enjoying milking all the applause he’s getting. It’s driving him on to bat as long as he possibly can.
“He’s shown everything he’s about so far in this game. He’s got stuck in, and it’s not easy out there, but he looks as though he’s enjoying the scrap.”