In the aftermath of the Lord’s defeat and the heroics of the lower order alongside Ravindra Jadeja that ended in a shattering 22-run loss on Monday, Yashasvi Jaiswal has flown under the radar. Just as well, because otherwise, the left-handed opener would have been pilloried for his reckless, irresponsible stroke on the fourth evening which allowed England an early sniff in their defence of 193.
Jaiswal began the Test series with great promise, with 101 and 87 in two of his first three outings, but since then, he has made just 41 runs in three further knocks. Especially disappointing was his seven-ball duck in the second innings in London, when he gifted Jofra Archer a Test wicket with an ill-conceived pull that only resulted in a top-edged skier comfortably pouched by Jamie Smith’s huge mitts.
Dismissed by Jofra Archer twice
Archer had already had Jaiswal’s number in the first innings, with the third delivery on his Test comeback. There was little the 23-year-old could have done in that instance, the ball jagging away with the slope, squaring him up and taking the outside edge on its way to second slip. It was just the sort of ball an opener would love not to get first-up.
For his second dismissal of the match by Archer, Jaiswal has only himself to blame. It was the first ball from Archer to his Rajasthan Royals teammate, a 141 kmph thunderbolt outside off that got big on the left-hander. For reasons best known to him, Jaiswal attempted a horrendous pull despite the height — nearer to his armpit — and the line, just outside off and not wide enough for him to free his arms.
Cramped for room, beaten for pace and possibly allowing his ego to get the better of him, Jaiswal’s best bet would have been an edge to third-man but that wasn’t to be, the ball going straight up and presenting Smith with the simplest of catches.
It wasn’t quintessential Jaiswal and yet, in many ways, it was oh-so-Jaiswal. To be able to play strokes from the off is an admirable trait when the percentages are in one’s favour. On this occasion, they certainly weren’t. The moment the ball ballooned up off his bat, Jaiswal threw his head back in dismay. Not enough, young man. Just not enough.
Jaiswal hasn’t done a lot wrong in his fledgling Test career, as an average of 50.77 from 22 matches will confirm. Three of his five hundreds have come overseas — in Roseau, Perth and Leeds — and he is blessed with the ability to snatch the early momentum with his aggression and positivity.
Shot selection, a problem
But this isn’t the first time he has fallen victim to questionable shot selection. Given how much Test cricket he has already played, he is no longer ‘young’ in cricketing terms. It’s time he assumes greater responsibility and accountability without jettisoning his organic flair; Old Trafford from Wednesday won’t be the worst place to start putting that into practice.
