"I'm fine if you want to come after me.."- Tom Hartley issues a stern warning to Rohit Sharma and other Indian batsmen

England spinner Tom Hartley shared his experience of conceding a six against Yashasvi Jaiswal on the first ball of his Test career. Tom Hartley said that Yashasvi Jaiswal was not the first batter and would not be the last to adopt an aggressive approach against him.

The Ben Stokes-led team posted a total of 246 in their first innings after opting to bat first. Tom Hartley bowled the second over in India’s innings, and Yashasvi Jaiswal slog-swept a six over deep mid-wicket. The spinner also conceded another six in his opening over.

The 24-year-old struggled with consistency and picked up two wickets for 131 runs in 25 overs in the first innings, dismissing Shubman Gill and KL Rahul. However, he delivered a match-winning bowling spell in the following innings, helping England register a victory.

The left-arm spinner picked up seven wickets for 62 runs in the fourth innings, restricting the opposition to 202 runs. The visiting team secured a 28-run victory in Hyderabad. The England team took an unassailable 1-0 lead in the ongoing five-match red-ball series.

Yashasvi Jaiswal Is Not The First And He Won’t Be The Last – Tom Hartley

Addressing Yashasvi Jaiswal’s aggressive approach, Tom Hartley acknowledged the inevitability of being targeted by batters. Hartley emphasized that facing such situations is inherent to his character and stressed the need for a strong mindset.

“He’s not the first, and he won’t be the last! As a spinner, people are going to come after you. I’m fine with it if people want to come after me. I sort of have to go into a different mindset. You look back at the ball and you think it wasn’t a bad ball. If that’s the way they want to play, you’ve just got to play with it,” Hartley told ESPNcricinfo.

I Might Have A Big Role – Tom Hartley

Tom Hartley emphasized the significance of slowing down his pace to preserve his bowling action effectively. Hartley expressed eagerness for a more substantial role, affirming his readiness and enthusiasm for the upcoming challenges.

“When you’re playing for the first time you just run up that bit quick. And you think, well, just slow things down, let your action do the work. When I run in quick, I just tend to lose my action a bit. I just slowed it down and kept it simple, and it seemed to work,” Hartley further stated.

“Coming out here, I was just looking to get a game or a couple of games. I might have a big role, but I’m more than ready for that. I want more of it,” he concluded.

England is likely to stick with the same spin bowling attack for the upcoming match, barring any injury concerns. However, there is a possibility of James Anderson returning to the squad for the second game, scheduled to be played in Visakhapatnam starting on February 2.

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