India is set to face Australia in a thrilling five-Test Border-Gavaskar 2024 series, starting on November 22. Among the many talented players in the Indian lineup, one name stands out as a significant challenge for the Australian bowlers—Yashasvi Jaiswal. The young left-handed batsman has already made a name for himself with his remarkable performances, and now, he is gearing up to take on the Australian pace attack on their home turf.
Yashasvi Jaiswal: The Rising Star
Yashasvi Jaiswal’s journey in international cricket has been nothing short of extraordinary. The 21-year-old made a stunning debut for India last year against the West Indies, where he scored a century, immediately announcing his arrival on the big stage. This year, he further solidified his reputation by amassing an incredible 712 runs in a five-Test series against England at home.
Jaiswal’s ability to adapt and perform in different conditions has caught the attention of many cricket experts, including Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon. Lyon, a seasoned campaigner with 530 wickets in 129 Tests, has already started his preparations to counter the young prodigy.
Nathan Lyon’s Perspective
Nathan Lyon recently revealed that he has been closely monitoring Jaiswal’s performances, especially his innings against England. Lyon, who had the opportunity to gather insights from England spinner Tom Hartley during his stint with Lancashire in the English county circuit, is aware of the challenges Jaiswal poses.
“I haven’t come across him [Jaiswal] yet, but that will be a massive challenge for all us bowlers,” Lyon said in an interview. He further added, “The way he played against England was quite amazing. I had some really good chats with Tom Hartley about different ways he went about it, which I found quite interesting.”
The Australian Strategy
Australia has not had much success against India in recent years, especially in the Border-Gavaskar 2024 series. Since their victory in the 2014-15 series, Australia has lost four consecutive series to India. Lyon, along with his teammate Josh Hazlewood, is determined to change that record this time around.
Lyon mentioned that there is a lot of “unfinished business” for the Australian team, and they are extremely hungry to turn things around, especially on their home soil. “It’s been ten years of unfinished business, and I know we’re extremely hungry to turn things around, especially here at home,” he said.
The Challenge of Australian Conditions
While Jaiswal has shown his prowess on Indian pitches, playing in Australia will be a new challenge for the young batsman. The pace and bounce of Australian tracks are known to test even the most experienced players. However, Jaiswal’s technique and temperament have impressed many, and he will be looking to prove his mettle in these challenging conditions.
Lyon acknowledged the difficulty of the task ahead, stating, “Don’t get me wrong, India is an absolute superstar side and extremely challenging, but I’m extremely hungry to turn things around and make sure we get that trophy back.”
A Different Australian Team
This Australian team, under the leadership of Pat Cummins, is slightly different from the one that lost to India in the previous series. Lyon feels that they are on a journey to becoming a great Australian cricket team and that defeating India in a Test series would be a significant achievement.
“We are on a journey of becoming a great Australian cricket team. We’re definitely not there yet, but we are along that journey and have been playing some decent cricket,” Lyon said.
The Importance of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy
For many Australian players, winning the Border-Gavaskar 2024 Trophy is a top priority. Josh Hazlewood, who has been part of the team for over a decade, emphasized the importance of winning this series, especially on home soil.
“There are quite a few players who have never beaten India in a Test series. It’s quite astounding to say that,” Hazlewood remarked. He added, “That last series, we obviously bowled them out for 36 in Adelaide, and we thought, here we go, back at home and confident on these grounds.”
However, India’s depth in all formats has made them a formidable opponent, and Australia will need to be at their best to reclaim the trophy.
The World Test Championship
While winning the Border-Gavaskar Trophy is the primary goal, the Australian team is also keeping an eye on the World Test Championship points table. Hazlewood mentioned that the team is aware of where they stand and what they need to do to qualify for the final.
“It’s always in the background; we have the table up [to see] where we are sitting and what we need to tick off,” he said. For Hazlewood, this series holds even more significance as he missed the last World Test Championship final in England due to injury.
Conclusion
As the Border-Gavaskar series approaches, all eyes will be on Yashasvi Jaiswal and how he handles the challenge of playing against Australia on their home turf. With experienced bowlers like Nathan Lyon and Josh Hazlewood eager to turn things around, this series promises to be a thrilling contest. Jaiswal’s performance could be the key to India’s success, and cricket fans around the world will be eagerly watching to see how the young star rises to the occasion. Stay updated with the latest from IPL365.
