India star Ravindra Jadeja has responded to James Anderson’s comment on his batting after his sensational century in the ongoing Test at Edgbaston.
Ravindra Jadeja has once again proved his worth with the bat by scoring a stunning century against England in Birmingham. While Jadeja’s batting abilities were known to the cricket world right from the start of his career, he did struggle a lot with consistency.
However, things have changed drastically in the last couple of years or so. Jadeja has been one of India’s most consistent batsmen in Tests and proved it again in the ongoing Test. India were reeling at 98 for 5 when he came out to bat and went on to smash his first overseas ton.
He added 222 runs with Rishabh Pant who scored 146 as India breached the 300-run mark. Jadeja reached his century on day two and played a key role in India posting a big total of 416 after the disastrous start. The southpaw scored 104.
It was his third century in Tests and second of the year. Earlier in March, he had played a sublime knock of 175 not out in the Mohali Test against Sri Lanka.
Ravindra Jadeja on James Anderson’s comment:
Ravindra Jadeja’s consistency has caught everyone’s attention and England pace spearhead James Anderson is not an exception either. The England star was asked about Jadeja’s batting when he was interacting with the media. In reply, Anderson opined that the promotion in batting order has played a key role in the allrounder’s recent displays with the bat.
“In the past he was coming at 8, bat with the tail so he had to chance his arm a little bit. Whereas now at 7 he can bat like a proper batter. He leaves really well and made it difficult for us,” said Anderson.
And it did not take Jadeja long to respond to the comment from the England star. Jadeja was asked about Anderson’s comment during the post-day press conference and he did not shy away from taking a sly dig at the pacer.
“See, when you score runs, everyone says they think of themselves as a proper batter. But I’ve always tried to give myself time at the crease, to set a partnership with whoever is at the crease, to play with him. It’s nice Jimmy Anderson has realised that after 2014… so I’m happy,” said Jadeja.
It should be noted that Jadeja and Anderson were involved in an ugly spat when India toured England in 2014. During the Trent Bridge Test, they had an altercation inside the pavilion and then a complaint was made by the Indian team management against the England management.
The Indian team-management had claimed that Anderson shoved Jadeja without any altercation and eventually a Level 3 charge was imposed on the England pacer by ICC.