Matthew Hayden and Sunil Gavaskar shared some valuable advice for young Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal ahead of the ongoing 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy Boxing Day Test against Australia starting on December 26 in Melbourne.
Yashasvi Jaiswal got off to a blistering start to his maiden tour of Australia with a stunning knock of 161 runs in the first Test after being dismissed for a duck in the first innings. His record ton and 200-plus 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 Perth's hundred, Yashasvi Jaiswal found himself at a crossroads as the youngster could only manage 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 tied at 1-1 after a tie in the Gabba Trial.
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As the fourth Test at the MCG holds significant significance, former Indian captain and legendary batsman Sunil Gavaskar has warned Yashasvi Jaiswal against teasing the Australian players in the Boxing Day Test, saying such things can “bite him hard hard on the back”.
Sunil Gavaskar believes Jaiswal will have to prove himself in the Boxing Day Test; otherwise, he could face the consequences. He also urged the young opener to avoid engaging in banter with the Australian bowlers as his witty sledge to Mitchell Starc proved too costly for India in Adelaide.
Say nothing on your own: Sunil Gavaskar to Yashasvi Jaiswal
Sunil Gavaskar said on Star Sports, “This game can come back and bite you in the back and bite you really hard. I think, you know, I saw a little exchange where he spoke to a senior bowler like Mitchell Starc. I think he had something to say to Nathan Lyon during that half century too.
The only thing I'd say to the young man is, you know, I think get your stick up and talk. If someone doesn't tell you something, that's another matter. But don't say anything on your own.”
Meanwhile, former Australian batsman Matthew Hayden admitted that Yashasvi Jaiswal is a talented player but needs to adjust his scoring areas. He pointed out that Jaiswal's recent dismissals were due to playing the ball aggressively off-stump and falling over 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 played in front of the box in the second innings, he executed a clean shot.
I would just like to see a little adjustment in the scoring areas of Yashasvi Jaiswal: Matthew Hayden
Matthew Hayden said during the same discussion on Star Sports: “He is a quality player but I would like to see a little adjustment in Jaiswal's scoring areas. Each of those layoffs, which is all three of them, was very different. I mean, he was going really hard at the ball outside the off-stump. And then he thought that ball was pitching down the leg side to LBW. And then the one that he… But I guess he fell in both of the last two layoffs.
The great Aussie explained further: “One in the air and then the change into the pads. Maybe sometimes you raise your hands like that. And I'm doing that with the camera right now. But if you can think in your own mind, well, well, maybe those are my scoring areas. Whereas I think at this point, Jaiswal is thinking, Well, that's my scoring zone.”
Finally, Hayden feels Jaiswal should narrow his focus a bit and start thinking about hitting it down the ground instead of hitting at that angle like a left-hander. He signed off saying that if he can't hit him on the ground, then he can always turn his hands.