Ravindra Jadeja ran through the Aussie batting line-up on Day 1 of the opening Test.
Despite being out of action for close to six months due to knee injury, it didn’t appear that Jadeja was struggling to find his rhythm. He bowled 22 overs and returned with a five-wicket haul (5/47), helping India bundle out the visitors for just 177 in the first innings.
After the close of play, Jadeja addressed a press conference, where he categorically dismissed the claims that the Nagpur pitch was a “rank turner”.
Notably, Australian media and some of their former cricketers had accused the hosts of doctoring the surface ahead of the series opener.
“This wasn’t a rank-turner. Compared to other pitches, it was slow and had low bounce. I felt defending wasn’t very difficult today but as the game progresses, it (defending) will become increasingly difficult. But that’s the nature of Test cricket,” Jadeja said at the end of the day’s play.
Marnus Labuschagne (49), Steve Smith (37), Matt Renshaw (0), Peter Handscomb (31) and debutant Todd Murphy (0) were his victims on the opening day.
“I used the crease as not every delivery was turning. And, as I said, the bounce was low, so trying (I tried) to create doubts in the minds of the batters,” Jadeja stated.
“I was going wide off the crease and coming close to the stumps and some deliveries if they stepped out and it turned, there would always be a chance. Luckily, he (Marnus Labuschagne) stepped out (and) that one (delivery) turned after pitching. And for (Steve) Smith, the ball went straight from that same spot from where I delivered the earlier (Marnus) delivery,” he explained.
Jadeja’s aim was to keep the Aussies guessing about which delivery would turn and which one would come straight.
“Yes, there was natural variation from the wicket, but I tried to mix up the angles so that there was doubt in the batter’s mind,” he said.
Recently, a fit-again Ravindra Jadeja made his return to competitive cricket in Saurashtra's Ranji Trophy match against Tamil Nadu. He took a seven-wicket haul in the second innings and bowled 41.1 overs in the match, besides registering scores of 15 and 25.
“I loved the rhythm with which I bowled (today) and the ball came out of my hand quite well, line and length was also accurate since there is no bounce off the track.
“I preferred bowling stump to stump. On a low-bounce track, there are more chances of leg before and bowled, and luckily, I got a few leg-before and bowled, so that makes me happy,” he said.
“I wouldn’t say this is exactly like the Chennai track (where the Ranji Trophy game was played) but quite similar to it in terms of low bounce. So, the thought process was to bowl stump to stump.”
For Jadeja, breaking the 84-run partnership between Smith and Labuschagne was the main concern.
“They were searching for runs and it wasn’t easy to rotate the strike and get runs off each ball. (So they) also started trying different things.
“And once they had a partnership, I thought, I should bowl as many dot balls as possible consistently. (The) pitch wasn’t offering turn, so (I) had to bowl (in) good areas and maintain good line and length to break the stand,” he remarked.