Michael Vaughan acclaims Ravindra Jadeja as an ‘exceptional cricketer’

Former England captain Michael Vaughan was all praise for Indian spinner-all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja after the latter produced a memorable performance in the fifth Test at Oval on September 9. Jadeja slammed an unbeaten 86 on Day 3 of the dead rubber to keep India in the hunt for a win after taking four crucial wickets in England’s first innings.

The hosts were 114 for 2 in their second innings with opener Alastair Cook, who is playing his last Test, unbeaten on 46 and skipper Joe Root at the other end. The hosts have already won the series and are leading 3-1 at the moment with Virat Kohli’s men playing for pride in the ongoing Test. India’s other high point in the game was Hanuma Vihari’s fifty on debut. Vihari and Jadeja added 77 runs for the seventh wicket to take the fight to England after India were reduced to 160 for 6. Jadeja paired up with No.11 batsman Jasprit Bumrah to add 32 runs for the final wicket.

Applauding Jadeja’s all-round performance in the game as he took his seventh four-wicket haul and scored the ninth fifty in Test cricket, the 43-year-old told BBC: “Jadeja is a good character. He’s got loads of energy, he’s good fun and he’s a terrific cricketer. You know what he’s going to deliver with the ball – and he played very cleverly with the bat.”

Vaughan lashes out at Keaton Jennings

Vaughan was, however, less generous on England opener Keaton Jennings. The left-handed bat scored a couple of forties in five Tests with a tally of 163 runs. His bizarre leg before dismissal by Jasprit Bumrah in the first innings of the fourth Test in Southampton particularly annoyed England fans and former players and questions were being raised over his technique as an opening batsman.

Vaughan also doubted it and asked whether the 26-year-old batsman will still continue to find a place in the team as an opener after Cook retires and predicted that he will be under big pressure in England’s upcoming series in Sri Lanka.

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