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SPORTS NOVEMBER 29, 2024 | The Indian Eye 42

INDIA TOUR AUSTRALIA

Grit, style and determination: Yashasvi Jaiswal

hits the maximum to rescue India in first Test

Yashasvi Jaiswal breaks Brendon McCullum’s 10-year-old Test record

OUR BUREAU
Perth
ndia’s young southpaw Yashas-
vi Jaiswal etched his name in the
Ihistory book by slamming the
most sixes in Test cricket in a calendar
year by eclipsing former New Zealand
power-hitter Brendon McCullum’s
10-year-old record. On Day 2 of the
Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) se-
ries opener against Australia, Jaiswal
smoked the ball into the stands to-
wards the end of the day’s play.
He danced around the crease and
found the ideal connection to launch
the ball over the boundary rope off
Nathan Lyon. This was Jaiswal’s
34th Test maximum in 2024, surpass-
ing McCullum’s tally of 33, which he
amassed in 2014.
England Test captain Ben Stokes
slipped to the third spot with 26 sixes
that he tonked in 2022. Australia’s de-
structive Adam Gilchrist and India’s
legendary opener Virender Sehwag
struck 22 sixes each in 2005 and 2008,
respectively.
In the BGT, Jaiswal didn’t have India’s Yashasvi Jaiswal plays a shot during Day 2 of the first Test match against Australia in the Border Gavaskar Trophy,
the most ideal start to his debut tour
to Australia. He tried to go after at Perth Stadium, in Perth on Saturday (ANI)
Mitchell Starc’s delivery, which was
pitched up front. The movement was up a 191-run partnership in Sydney in Jaiswal and Rahul’s mercy. sessions to put India in a dominant
enough to force out an outside edge, 1986. The relentless approach from the position.
which stayed low while travelling to With exceptional footwork from Indian openers became a sight to be- The last time an Indian pair
Nathan McSweeney at gully. the duo, Rahul stayed unbeaten with hold. They upped the ante to post an before Jaiswal and Rahul, who bat-
In his second turn on Day a score of 62(153) while Jaiswal ham- unbeaten 172-run opening partner- ted out two successive sessions in a
2, Jaiswal held his temperament mered an unbeaten 90(193), which ship, propelling India’s score to 172/0 SENA ((South Africa, England, New
throughout his stay on the crease. has put India in possession of a com- at the stumps. Zealand and Australia) Test was the
With the grass coming off and the ball manding 218-run lead. It was the first 150-plus opening duo of Pujara and Kohli at the MCG
getting worn out, Jaiswal picked the Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul’s stand by a visiting team in Australia in 2018.
deliveries to punish and increase Aus- record-defining partnership on Day since 159 posted by English duo An- The 172-run partnership was In-
tralia’s woes. 2 of the Border Gavaskar Trophy drew Strauss and Alastair Cook at the dia’s highest opening stand in Tests
Along with his compatriot Kl against Australia in Perth saw them MCG back in 2010. in Australia since the 2004 SCG Test,
Rahul, he forged a 172-run partner- join an exclusive club on Saturday. Notably, this was the first 150- where Virender Sehwag and Aakash
ship, which propelled India’s score After the pitch started to change plus opening partnership outside Ash- Chopra displayed their grit to put on
to 172/0. This partnership marked its nature and turn in favour of the es Tests since 191 stitched up by Sunil 123.
India’s highest opening stand in Tests batters, Jaiswal and Rahul made the Gavaskar and Kris Srikkanth at the With exceptional footwork
in Australia since the 2004 SCG Test, most of what was on offer. SCG back in 1986. and strokeplay from the duo, Ra-
where Virender Sehwag and Aakash They shifted through gears, Jaiswal and Rahul took the crease hul stayed unbeaten with a score of
Chopra put 123 on the board. picked their moments and constantly in the second session after Austra- 62(153) while Jaiswal slammed an
Overall, the highest partnership rotated the strike to put pressure off lia folded on just 104 at the stroke unbeaten 90(193), which has put In-
is held by Sunil Gavaskar and Krish- their shoulders. Australia’s bowlers of lunch. They kept their composure dia in possession of a commanding
namachari Srikkanth, who stitched soon ran out of depth as they fell to and batted through two consecutive 218-run lead.

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