Former England cricketer Stuart Broad has voiced his surprise and criticism over Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal’s shot selection during a crucial Test match, calling it a “really bad shot.”
Jaiswal’s Early Dismissal
India faced a challenging chase of 193 runs in the third Test at Lord’s. The innings got off to a difficult start when Yashasvi Jaiswal, known for his attacking style, attempted a pull shot off a short ball from Jofra Archer.
The ball took a top edge, soaring high into the air before being safely caught by wicket-keeper Jamie Smith. This early wicket was a significant blow to India’s chase.
Broad Questions Shot Selection
Stuart Broad, speaking on the ‘For The Love Of Cricket’ podcast, expressed his astonishment at Jaiswal’s choice. He highlighted that while Jaiswal’s intent to score is clear, his decision to pull instead of cutting the ball over the off-side was puzzling.
“So Jaiswal getting out, really bad shot, I’m surprised he just didn’t look to cut it over the off-side, suddenly England are like okay, we are in,” Broad remarked. He noted Jaiswal’s role as a scoreboard mover, essential for quick runs.
Shift in Momentum
Broad further explained the impact of Jaiswal’s dismissal on the game’s flow. He compared Jaiswal to aggressive openers like Virender Sehwag or David Warner, who can quickly take a game away from the bowling side.
With Jaiswal gone, Karun Nair walked in. Nair is known for his cautious approach, playing each ball on its merit rather than aggressively looking for boundaries. This allowed England to regain control and set more attacking fields, building pressure on the Indian batsmen.
England Capitalizes
The early breakthrough of Jaiswal proved to be a turning point. England successfully picked up four wickets on that evening, laying a strong foundation for their eventual victory.
Brydon Carse starred with two crucial wickets on the fourth evening. On the fifth morning, Jofra Archer continued the damage, dismissing key players like Rishabh Pant and Washington Sundar, further deepening India’s troubles.
Despite a valiant fight from Ravindra Jadeja and the tail-enders, India ultimately fell short by 22 runs. Broad underscored Jaiswal’s wicket as a “really big moment” that allowed England to dominate.
- Yashasvi Jaiswal was dismissed attempting a pull shot off Jofra Archer.
- Stuart Broad criticized the shot, suggesting a cut over off-side would have been a better choice.
- Jaiswal’s wicket allowed England to set attacking fields and control the game.
- England capitalized on the early breakthrough to secure a 22-run victory.
This incident highlights how crucial early wickets and shot selection can be in high-stakes Test cricket, often dictating the flow and outcome of a match.