Ravindra Jadeja breaches BCCI protocol on Day 2 of Edgbaston Test, likely to escape sanctions
New Delhi: On Day 2 of the Birmingham Test, veteran India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja flouted the Board of Control for Cricket-in-India (BCCI) guidelines. This was after a 3-1 series defeat of India in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, the BCCI had ordered that players should not travel alone, but should be as a group to and from the ground using the team bus.
How Jadeja will escape the sanctions
Jadeja violated the rule as he turned up at Edgbaston before the start of Day 2 to bash a few balls in the net to work out some extra batting in preparation. But since the intention is there but not the circumstances, no penalty is anticipated. With knowledge of how the lower-order of the Indian side had folded twice in the initial Test of the series at Leeds, Jadeja took the initiative, and it was proved successful, as he combined with skipper Shubman Gill to bring India out of trouble with 211 being in the bag at the halfway stage on a batting friendly deck.
'All players are expected to travel with the team to and from matches and practice sessions. Separate travel arrangements with families are discouraged to maintain discipline and team cohesion. Exceptions, if any, must be pre-approved by the head coach and Chairman of the Selection Committee,' the BCCI's SOP reads.
'Somewhere I felt that I should go and bat extra because the ball was still new,' Jadeja said. 'I felt if I can see the new ball off, it would become easy for the rest of the innings. Luckily I could bat till lunch, and then Washi[ngton Sundar] also batted well with Shubman. The more you bat in England, the better it is because you never feel you are set in England. At any time a ball can swing and take your edge or bowl you,' said Jadeja.
Missed golden chance for Jadeja
Jadeja, who became a victim to an unheard snorter, got out caught after scoring 89, but created a vital 203-run stand with Gill to help India move beyond the 500-run mark. He said he was happy to get a significant contribution with the bat.
'When you contribute with the bat for the team, it feels great, when you are playing outside India, and the team needs you more, it feels good,' Jadeja said. 'From 210 for 5 to put together a big partnership to take the team forward, it is a challenge. I took it as a challenge. If you can stick around with the captain and put together a big partnership, it gives you confidence as a cricketer and a batter that in the coming matches also you can contribute' added Jadeja
After Jadeja got dismissed, Gill took over again and he along with Washington Sundar had put together a partnership of 144 runs that were further aggravating England bowlers. Washington was later sacked by 42/103 balls against Joe Root, and gill had made an epic out on 269. India, driven by his marathon knock amassed a huge total of 587 runs.
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