Former England captain Alastair Cook showered praise on Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal for his impressive batting during the first Test against Australia in the BGT 2024-25.
Alastair Cook also recalled a moment when Yashasvi Jaiswal sledged Mitchell Starc about his pace during the recent Test match.
Yashasvi Jaiswal was dismissed for a duck off Starc’s bowling during the first innings of the match. However, he bounced back with a brilliant 297-ball 161 knock in the second innings. The left-handed batter also sledged Mitchell Starc, saying he was bowling too slowly. That remark was caught by the stump mic.
What a Classy Player Yashasvi Jaiswal Is – Alastair Cook
Talking to TNT Sports, Alastair Cook pointed out that opening is the hardest place to bat and described Yashasvi Jaiswal as a classy player. Cook stated that Yashasvi Jaiswal sledged Mitchell Starc despite not having a big score at the time.
“We’ve seen his celebration enough here, but it’s more enjoyable against Australia than England, certainly. And sledging Mitchell Starc, saying at a certain stage, I think he wasn’t on 100, he wasn’t on anything on a major score, but he’s telling him you’re bowling slow,” Cook said on TNT Sports.
“And if he was bowling slow, I’d keep my mouth shut and not wind him up but have the confidence to do that as a 22-year-old. I think he scored the most runs as any Indian player up to after 15 test matches at the top of the order, which I’ll keep saying it, no one else believes me, it’s the hardest place to bat. What a classy player he is,” he added.
Yashasvi Jaiswal became the second-fastest Indian batter to reach 1,000 Test runs earlier this year. He achieved this feat in just 16 innings. His century in Perth was his fourth Test century in only 15 matches and his second century away from home. He hit a century in his debut match in the West Indies last year.
I Was Surprised That India Have Hammered Australia – Alastair Cook
Alastair Cook expressed surprise at India’s 295-run win over Australia in the first Test at Perth Stadium. India played with remarkable confidence despite Australia’s unbeaten record at the venue. Cook highlighted that India made a brave decision to bat first on a challenging wicket.
“I was surprised. I was surprised that India have gone there and hammered Australia in what normally is a very hard place to go and play cricket, Perth. I know it’s not the WACA. I know it’s the new stadium, but still, historically, Australia don’t lose many games there,” said Cook.
“I thought India was so brave. I thought that first, you know, the win the toss and bat on that wicket, you know, you look there, even though there’s only 150 they got, you know, the thought process to say, we’re going to take Australia on there. We know it’s going to be hard, but we think it’s going to be hard for both sides only, and then it’ll be a one-inning game.”
India Bowled Out for 150 in First Innings of Perth Test
Team India posted just 150 in their first innings but then restricted Australia to 104. Jaiswal, KL Rahul (77), and Virat Kohli (100*) played key roles in setting a challenging target of 534 for Australia.
Australia could not survive against the Indian bowling attack, led by Jasprit Bumrah. The Pat Cummins-led team was dismissed for just 238. The second Test will begin in Adelaide on December 6.
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