It’s called Test cricket for a reason. It tests the different facets of a player, like skill set, temperament, mental makeup, ability to adapt and play according to the situation. Not against the best attack in the world, Yashasvi Jaiswal ticked a few vital boxes while becoming the 17th Indian to score a century on Test debut and seventh to achieve the mark away from home.
Jasiwal’s appetite for runs is well known. He had been piling them up with clockwork regularity since the junior level. The graduation into the senior league was seamless and he has scored heavily in every format. First-class average above 80, double century in 50-over cricket, century in T20s and a successful IPL in 2023 fast tracked the 21-year-old into the Test XI.
And this was the real test. Even though Kemar Roach, Alzarri Joseph and Jason Holder were not exactly penetrative, spinners Rakhim Cornwall and Jomel Warrican found purchase from the pitch to ask questions of the Indian openers in the first session on Day 2. And the pacers were not erratic. They did not look like taking wickets, but targeted one side of the stumps to dry up the runs.
This was Jaiswal’s challenge. He likes to score at a fast clip. In first-class cricket, he often begins with a flurry of boundaries. That was not the case in Dominica. The left-hander was made to graft and grind. There was not a lot of playing and missing, but hardly any authoritative stroke either, in the initial stage of his innings. To his credit, he accepted the scrap. Leaving balls outside off, he gradually became more assured and aerial shots after the upper-cut to get off the mark were minimal.
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Jaiswal eschewed his instincts to be flamboyant and seemed to have decided that it’s better to look ugly out in the middle than sitting pretty in the pavilion. The first session on Day 2 tested him the most. Holder kept it outside off and full consistently and invited Jaiswal to drive. After one wild attempt playing away from the body, he was quick to down shutters. There was no more flirting outside off. Century off 215 balls showed that he had dug deep to stay at the crease.
The spinners, too, tested Jaiswal, especially Cornwall who got some bounce. But other than a few hits including a reverse sweep, he was content defending and leaving the ball. He had a go at it only when he was sure that it was in his zone. He came out more confident after lunch and started using his feet against the spinners and hitting them into the gaps. Such a demonstration of how to construct and pace an innings coming from a debutant aged 21 was commendable indeed.
The pressure on Jaiswal will increase. Bowlers of South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia will pose a much stiffer challenge. And India will play against these sides in this cycle of the World Test Championship. His videos will be dissected, opponents will make notes on him and chalk out plans. The going, in all likelihood, will get tougher.
Jaiswal need not worry about that right now. His first task was to clear this test which he did with distinction. Everybody knew he can gallop away from the beginning of an innings. Question was, does he have it in him to switch to a slower gear at the highest level. People knew he could hit the ball. Can he refrain from doing that for long periods when the situation demands?
Jaiswal has answered these questions in sound manner. It was not a perfect innings, but played according to the need of the hour — fulfilling the requirements of his team and his own desire to make a name for himself after the hardships endured as a teenager. Early to say if morning will show the day, but this has been a good morning.
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