Steve Smith Explains Why Ravindra Jadeja Is So Difficult To Face In The Sub-Continent
Published - 08 Apr 2020, 06:35 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:05 AM

Winning a Test match against India in their own den, let alone a series is one of the biggest challenges for any visiting side. The Men in Blue have lost just two series- vs Australia in 2004 and against England in 2012-13- on home soil- and under Virat Kohli, the dominance has soared to the hilt.
While the fast bowlers have also come to the fore in the past two seasons, the prime architects of India’s dominance have been due to the spin duo of their two Ravis’- Ashwin and Jadeja.

Jadeja has been a revelation ever since he made his debut in 2012-13. The left-arm has claimed 154 wickets in 63 innings at an average of 20.71 with the help of seven five-wicket-hauls and a ten-for. And, Steven Smith has hailed the southpaw as one of the biggest challenges in Indian conditions.
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“Jadeja in the sub-continent… why he is so good because, he hits that good length and one ball skids on and one spins, and it just all looks the same out of the hand. I think consistency in length is key and then having at least one variation,” Smith said.
Steve Smith on why Ravindra Jadeja is difficult to face in the sub-continent

Smith, who revealed his ambition of winning a Test series in India in the future reckoned that Jadeja is one of the few bowlers who can vary their pace without changing the arms speed too much.
“So, I think for a leg-spinner, having a good googly, or a slider is crucial and for fingers spinners, being able to change the pace without changing the arms speed too much. I reckon there a few around the world who do that, Jadeja is one of them. He is very difficult to play in.” Smith added.
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