Jazball Comes To A Halt

Overcast conditions, rain stoppages hurt India's chances on Day 1 of fifth Test at the Oval

- Firoz Mirza

India batter Yashasvi Jaiswal had a massive series in terms of runs when England toured the sub-continent early in 2024. He slammed two double centuries to accumulate 712 runs from nine innings at an average of 89 during the five-match rubber. Such was his show that the term Jazball was coined akin to Bazball, a style of play attributed to England being coached by Brendon McCullum.

Considering his past performance against England, the left-hand opener was tipped for success when India crossed the English shores for the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. Jaiswal came true to expectations as the Mumbai player started with a century (101) in his maiden outing on English soil in the first Test at Leeds. He followed it up with a half-century (87) in the second match but has blown hot and cold since. He has scored just 101 runs in the next six innings including his latest outing where he managed only two runs in India's fifth and final Test here at the Oval on Thursday morning.

A delivery from Gus Atkinson angled into his front pad and then thudded on his back pad after deflection. With the on-field umpire adjudging it not out, England stand-in skipper Ollie Pope went for review and he was right as the ball was hitting the leg stump.