Matthew Hayden and Sunil Gavaskar shared some valuable advice for the young Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal ahead of the Boxing Day Test of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 against Australia, starting on December 26 in Melbourne.
Yashasvi Jaiswal had a stellar start to his maiden Australia tour with a mind-blowing knock of 161 runs in the first Test after he was dismissed for a duck in the first innings. His record ton and 200+ partnership with KL Rahul played a key role in India’s 295-run win over Australia.
Matthew Hayden and Sunil Gavaskar offer key advice to Yashasvi Jaiswal ahead of the Boxing Day Test
But after his Perth hundred, Yashasvi Jaiswal found himself at the crossroads, as the youngster could manage only 0, 24, 4, and 4* in the last two Tests of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 between India and Australia, with the series being tied at 1-1 after a draw in the Gabba Test.
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Since the fourth Test at the MCG holds significant significance, the former Indian captain and legendary batter Sunil Gavaskar warned Yashasvi Jaiswal about teasing the Australian players in the Boxing Day Test, saying such things can ‘bite him on the backside very hard.’.
Sunil Gavaskar believes that Jaiswal will have to prove himself in the Boxing Day Test; otherwise, he may face the consequences. He also urged the young opener to avoid engaging in any banter with the Australian bowlers, as his witty sledge to Mitchell Starc proved too costly for India in Adelaide.
Don’t say anything on your own: Sunil Gavaskar to Yashasvi Jaiswal
Sunil Gavaskar said on Star Sports: “This game can come back and bite you on the backside and bite you very hard. I think, you know, we saw a little bit of exchange where he’s been talking to a senior bowler like Mitchell Starc. I think he had something to say to Nathan Lyon as well during that century innings.
The one thing that I would say to the young man is, you know, I think lift your bat to the talking. Unless somebody says something to you, that’s another matter. But don’t say anything on your own.”
Meanwhile, former Australian batter Matthew Hayden admitted that Yashasvi Jaiswal is a talented player, but he must adjust his scoring areas. He pointed out that Jaiswal’s recent dismissals were due to playing aggressively at the ball outside off stump and falling across the stumps.
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Matthew Hayden advised Jaiswal to narrow his focus and aim to play more shots down the ground rather than hitting against the angle. He noted that when Jaiswal did play in front of square in the second innings, he executed a crisp shot.
I’d just like to see a little adjustment in Yashasvi Jaiswal’s scoring areas: Matthew Hayden
Matthew Hayden said during the same discussion on Star Sports: “He is a quality player, but I’d just like to see a little adjustment in Jaiswal’s scoring areas. Each one of those dismissals, the three that is, was very different. I mean, he was going very hard at the ball outside off stump. And then he thought that ball was drifting down the leg side at the LBW. And then the one that he… But I suppose the thing is he fell across both of those last two dismissals.”
The Aussie great further explained, “One in the air and then the shift into the pads. Maybe it’s just sometimes when you hold your hands up like that. And I’m doing this to the camera right now. But if you can maybe think in your own mind, OK, well, that’s maybe my scoring areas. Whereas I think at the moment, Jaiswal’s thinking, Well, that’s my scoring area.”
In the end, Hayden feels Jaiswal should narrow his focus a little bit and start to think about hitting it down the ground instead of hitting against that angle as a left-hander. He signed off by saying that if he can’t quite hit it down the ground, then he can always turn his hands over.