Stuart Broad has pointed to Yashasvi Jaiswal’s early dismissal on Day 4 as the turning point in the Lord’s Test between England and India. The former England fast-bowler said that Jaiswal’s shot lacked conviction and allowed England to gain control of the game early in India’s chase. He noted that the left-hander’s aggressive style of batting could have made a significant difference in chasing a modest target of 193 runs.
India had begun the fourth innings with KL Rahul and Jaiswal walking out to chase 193 on a lively Lord’s pitch. But their hopes of a strong start were dented almost immediately. In just the second over, Jaiswal attempted to pull a short delivery from Jofra Archer but only managed a top edge. The ball ballooned up and was safely collected by wicket-keeper Jamie Smith, ending Jaiswal’s stay for a seven-ball duck.
Yashasvi Jaiswal was the man in form and his dismissal was a massive one for England as they won the match by 22 runs in the end.
Stuart Broad Says Yashasvi Jaiswal’s Dismissal Was Turning Point
Broad spoke about how Jaiswal’s poor shot changed the game. He compared Jaiswal’s style to that of Virender Sehwag and David Warner, two players who used to run away with the game pretty quickly.
"So Jaiswal getting out, really bad shot, I’m surprised he just didn’t look to cut it over the off-side. Suddenly England are like okay, we are in. He is the player who moves the scoreboard forward. In a low chase, when you are defending, if you come to bowl and you’ve got a Sehwag, Warner, the opening batters that can take the game away from you and they up 60 for none or one off ten, the game is sort of done," Stuart Broad said as quoted on For The Love Of Cricket podcast.
Broad also explained how Karun Nair’s arrival helped England control the game.
"As soon as Karun Nair came in, he is someone who plays each ball on merit, then England could control it and set attacking fields, create pressure. So I thought that was a really big moment. England making that breakthrough early, Jaiswal gone," he added.
India’s Collapse Hands England 2-1 Lead Ahead of Manchester Test
Following Jaiswal’s wicket, Nair was trapped lbw by Brydon Carse. Shubman Gill and nightwatchman Akash Deep followed soon after and by stumps on Day 4, India were reeling at 58/4.
Day 5 offered little respite with Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, Washington Sundar and Nitish Kumar Reddy getting dismissed in the morning session. India were reduced to 112/8. Ravindra Jadeja put up a fight with a resilient 61* along with Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj but it was not enough as India were bowled out for 170.
The loss gave England a 2-1 lead in the five-match series with two Tests still to be played. The fourth Test is scheduled to begin on July 23 at Emirates Old Trafford in Manchester, where India will look to bounce back and keep the series alive.