Chennai Test in balance
Jennings is expected to become captain Alastair Cook’s 11th opening partner in four years when the fourth Test against India starts here in Mumbai tomorrow.
The 24-year-old has jetted in from England Lions duty in Dubai to replace the injured Haseeb Hameed and, with Cook’s men 2-0 down in the series with two matches to play, he is set to be thrown in at the deep end.
However, rather than being cowed, the South Africa-born player is approaching his big moment in combative mood.
“I don’t think it is pressure,” said Jennings. “I have always been told pressure is a privilege. I like to think I bring a bit of positive energy to the group. I am generally quite a happy guy. But again it is 2-0 down against tough opposition. Hopefully we can land a few haymakers and throw some punches back.”
Jennings only qualified for England in April, having spent four years playing for Durham.
Although his mother is from Sunderland, Jennings still needed to see out a qualification period having been born and brought up in Johannesburg.
If timing is everything for a batsman, then the opener’s form last season – when he hit 1,548 County Championship runs for Durham at an average of 64.50 – was perfect.
Despite his English roots – he also has a grandmother who still lives in Sunderland – Jennings is a product of the South African system, captaining his country’s Under-19 team as recently as 2011 and going to the same Johannesburg public school as ex-Proteas skipper Graeme Smith.
Moreover, his father Ray Jennings is a former wicketkeeper who has coached South Africa.
Yet asked how English he felt, Jennings cited the warm welcome he has received in the North-east – led by England’s Durham contingent of Ben Stokes and Mark Wood as well as club captain Paul Collingwood.
“Growing up, I went to the same school as Graeme Smith – King Edward VII,” said Jennings. “I finished school and came over to England straight away in April 2011 and then from there tried to make my way in English cricket.
“I threw my lot in the following year for qualification reasons and the guys up north made me feel
Despite the accent, I feel English
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India: Murali Vijay, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (captain), Ajinkya Rahane, Parthiv Patel (wicketkeeper), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Umesh Yadav, Jayant Yadav, Mohammed Shami. Alastair Cook (captain), Keaton Jennings, Joe Root, Moeen Ali, Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow (wicketkeeper), Jos Buttler, Chris Woakes, Adil Rashid, Stuart Broad, James Anderson. Umpires: Paul Reiffel, Bruce Oxenford (both Australia). (SA). TV umpire: Marais Erasmus TV: Sky Sports 2, 4am. HEAT ON KEATON: But Jennings, in fine form for Durham, has been helped to settle in by Stokes, inset ENGLAND’S fifth and final Test against India in Chennai next week is under threat following the death of a prominent local politician.
The match could be rescheduled or cancelled altogether after Jayalalithaa Jayaram, a former film star who was the chief minister of Tamil Nadu, died on Monday at the age of 68.
A week of mourning was declared yesterday in the southern Indian state, of which Chennai is the capital.
Fearing Jayalalithaa’s death might trigger violence and rioting, a heavy police presence has been deployed.
Although the Test does not start until a week on Friday, the Board of Control for Cricket in India have refused to confirm it will go ahead. “No decision has been taken,” said a statement. “BCCI are monitoring the situation. BCCI fully understand the sensitivity of the matter and will keep everyone informed.”
Alastair Cook’s England, preparing for tomorrow’s fourth Test in Mumbai, still plan to travel to Chennai on Tuesday unless otherwise instructed.
Kolkata and Pune are alternative venues if the final Test cannot be staged in Chennai. But rescheduling the match would be a logistical nightmare.
Depending on the state of the series – and India, 2-0 up, can win it in Mumbai – that might mean it is easier to call off the final Test.