Ravindra Jadeja Certainly Fits In The Indian Test Team: Tom Moody

Former Australia batsman, Tom Moody is extremely impressed by Ravindra Jadeja’s half-century in the ongoing Boxing Day Test between India and Australia in Melbourne. A 121-run partnership between Ravindra Jadeja and skipper Ajinkya Rahane took India to an important first-innings lead of 131 runs.

By the end of day 3, India is in total command of the match. The visitors are inching towards a victory which would level the series as Australia have a slender lead of 2 runs but has lost 6 wickets with youngster Cameron Green and tailender Pat Cummins at the crease.

Jadeja has the ability to play the long game: Tom Moody

Earlier in the day, Jadeja added 17 runs to his overnight total of 40 to complete his half-century. Tom Moody lauds Jadeja’s defence as the left-hander played an uncharacteristic knock batting for 159 balls and scoring just 3 boundaries. Moody opines that Jadeja has improved his defence and eschewed his instincts to attack unnecessarily.

“It’s been a very good innings, no question about it. The most impressive thing for me throughout the whole innings was his robust defense. And to me, that is an area, if I was looking at Jadeja, in the rear-view mirror, and what he’s done previously is shown vulnerability from a defensive point of view,” Tom Moody told ESPNCricinfo.

The 55-year-old said that Jadeja showed great calmness while batting in a difficult situation. Moody asserts that the southpaw displayed his ability to bat for long hours and was patient throughout. ‘Maturity’ is the word that Moody uses to emphasize Jadeja’s rise as a batsman in the past few years.

In Test cricket, Jadeja’s batting average has improved each year since 2015. From 21.80 in 2015 to 37.50 in 2016 to 41.00 in 2017, and 45.60 in 2018. The southpaw averaged a terrific 62.85 in 2019 and including his 57 at MCG, he averages 41 in 2020. The former Sunrisers Hyderabad coach opined that both Jadeja and Rishabh Pant adds batting strength to the Indian team.

“To me, he showed great composure in defense. He also showed that he had the ability to play the long game in the sense that he was prepared to be patient and let the ball go well. And there was an enormous amount of maturity. Does he fit in the side with Pant and him at 6 and 7? He certainly does. That’s a good enough top seven for me in Test cricket, If he’s playing with that type of maturity,” Tom Moody added.

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