Manchester, July 18: As India prepares for a must-win clash in the fourth Test at Old Trafford, Ravindra Jadeja stands on the verge of entering one of cricket’s most exclusive clubs.
The Indian all-rounder needs just 58 more runs to join Sir Garfield Sobers as only the second visiting batter to score 1,000 Test runs in England while batting at No. 6 or lower—a remarkable feat that would further cement Jadeja’s legacy as one of the game’s premier all-rounders.
With the series currently poised at 2-1 in England’s favour, India will head into the Manchester Test with renewed determination following a narrow 22-run defeat at Lord’s, where they fell just short chasing 193. In that game, as in many before, Jadeja once again played a crucial role with the bat, showcasing the resilience and maturity that have come to define his performances abroad.
Jadeja has quietly become one of India’s most dependable batters in English conditions, particularly in the lower-middle order. Across 14 Tests in England, batting from No. 6 to No. 12, he has amassed 942 runs in 27 innings, averaging 40.95, with one century and seven half-centuries. His highest score in England is 104. Should he add another 58 runs in Manchester, he will become the only other visiting lower-order batter after Sobers to breach the 1,000-run mark in these positions.
Sir Garfield Sobers, widely regarded as one of the greatest all-rounders in the history of the game, set a towering benchmark with 1,097 runs in just 11 Tests and 16 innings in England, at an astonishing average of 84.38. The West Indies legend scored four centuries and five fifties, with a top score of 174.
Jadeja’s recent form with the bat has been nothing short of exceptional. He is currently the fifth-highest run-scorer in the ongoing series, having scored 327 runs from six innings at an eye-popping average of 109.00, which includes four consecutive half-centuries. His top score this series stands at 89.
However, while his batting stocks have soared, Jadeja’s impact with the ball has been minimal. The left-arm spinner has managed to pick up only three wickets in the series, at a rather expensive average of over 110, suggesting that his primary contributions of late have come with the willow rather than the ball. (Agencies)
