Overview:
Steyn noted that Jaiswal might need to avoid playing the shot, just as Tendulkar stopped playing the cover drive in a Test series in Australia after being dismissed several times.
South African fast bowling great Dale Steyn suggested that Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal could take a lesson from Sachin Tendulkar to address his struggles with the cut shot against left-arm pacers. Steyn noted that Jaiswal might need to avoid playing the shot, just as Tendulkar stopped playing the cover drive in a Test series in Australia after being dismissed several times.
Yashasvi Jaiswal was dismissed for 13 by Marco Jansen on Day 4 of the second Test against South Africa at Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on Tuesday, November 25. Once again, the left-hander was caught behind while attempting a cut shot. This stroke has caused him trouble in recent innings, with several of his recent dismissals coming against left-arm fast bowlers.
On Cricket Live, JioStar expert Dale Steyn mentioned that Jaiswal must find a way to address his struggles with the cut shot. The former South African fast bowler remarked:
“It’s his go-to option. He enjoys playing that shot. He is accustomed to facing right-arm bowlers who angle the ball across him, so it feels natural. However, with Marco Jansen being a left-armer, the ball appears to be moving away, giving him space, but more often than not, it’s actually closer than he anticipates.”
“When the ball is in your zone, you naturally go for it. But perhaps it’s something Jaiswal needs to consciously reduce. I recall Sachin once deciding to remove the drive from his game in Australia. Jaiswal may also need to say, ‘Unless it’s in a particular area, I won’t play it. In this area, I’ll rely on my defence,” he added.
Sachin Tendulkar’s 241 against Australia in the Sydney Test, January 2004, was memorable not only for its brilliance but also for the fact that he didn’t play a single cover drive. Over 613 minutes, he faced 436 balls and hammered 33 boundaries.