India’s new found left handed superstar Yashasvi Jaiswal‘s second Test ton offset, to some extent, the mistakes that India’s other batters committed after opting to bat on day one of the Vizag Test. Yashasvi Jaiswal‘s unbeaten 179* powered India to 336/6 by the end of the day with the next highest score of the day being a mere 34.
Yashasvi Jaiswal, after a fifty in the first Test, applied himself more in the second and worked his way to a stroke-filled hundred, getting to the landmark with an emphatic six over long on. The left-handed opener was the glue around which India’s batting revolved on a pitch that held no demons. He had partners stitching together stands but throwing it away eventually as England managed to garner some kind of control over the Indian batting line up in the final session at the end of first day in the second test at Vizag.
Pitch playing major role in Yashasvi Jaiswal’s knock
After the close but humiliating loss in the first test all eyes were on the pitch at Vishakhapatnam and the toss as in spinning conditions in India the captain winning the toss always has an advantage later on in the match. The wicket looks like a beauty to bat on. All English fans would be smiling at that.
The top layer in black soil, below is red soil. There will be turn but not too much on Day 1. Certainly a win toss, bat first kind of wicket. Both sides will play plenty of spinners but we expect the spinners to come into the contest later in the Test. The first two days certainly better for batting.
Yashasvi Jaiswal through his skills ensured this the whole day, with immaculate stroke play and cool head over the shoulders proving that the pitch is no demons for the batters who apply themselves. The career best knock of 179* till now is the testament of grind and effort shown by this young Indian opener.
However this innings and the behavior of the pitch has impressed the likes of former English opener Micheal Atherton who believes that if Jaiswal continues his merry ways on Day 2 India would be certain to score around 400-450 runs given the condition of the pitch remains intact and suitable for batting.
India will have designs on a score of 400, 450- Michael Atherton
Former England captain and opener Michael Atherton reckons India will still have 400-450 in their sights until Yashaswi Jaiswal remains at the crease in the second Test in Vishakhapatnam. However, the former opener also feels it’s a score the tourists will back themselves to overhaul.
While Yashasvi Jaiswal stood tall on day 1 in Vishakhapatnam with his unbeaten 179, the remaining batters failed to make their starts count. The left-handed batter’s pristine hundred led India to a formidable 336-6 in 93 overs and will back themselves to bat as long as possible to put England under pressure.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Atherton reflected that the surface in Vizag is not as tricky as in Hyderabad. The 55-year-old also believes Ollie Pope’s method in the previous Test should give England directions on how to tackle the Indian spinners. Atherton said:
“While Jaiswal’s there, India will have designs on a score of 400, 450. That’s never a bad first-innings score, but it’s not the kind of one that will frighten England. You always look at conditions and wonder how things will go,”
“It’s certainly less of a troubling pitch than it was in Hyderabad in that first innings. England’s batters, having taken confidence from the way Ollie Pope and the others played [in the first Test], will be pretty confident of getting a score themselves,”
Jaiswal shared three half-century partnerships with Shreyas Iyer, Rajat Patidar, and Axar Patel, but they were guilty of not converting their starts. The southpaw reached his hundred in the 49th over with a six over long-on and continued till days end to stand tall at 179*.
England will play aggressively exclaims Michael Atherton.
Atherton also predicts the tourists to come out with an attacking approach, but thinks early wickets on day 2 will be vital to restrict India to as low a score as possible. He added:
“You’ll see England playing aggressively because that’s they’re committed to playing that way and quite differently from the way India play. It’s a good contrast in styles really between India’s top six and England’s. They want to get early wickets tomorrow morning. Get Jaiswal out if they can, get among the wickets and get batting because day two, day three, I’m sure the pitch will still be fine,”
For England, Shoaib Bashir and Rehan Ahmed finished with two wickets each. The tourists hold a 1-0 lead after winning in Hyderabad by 28 runs despite trailing by 190 runs after the first innings and would be expecting the same by restricting India below 400 as Day 2 of an enthralling test match.