Team India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal said that he was ready for a bouncer from Josh Hazlewood after he had ramped the bowler for a six to reach his ton on Day 3 of the first Test against Australia in Perth on Sunday, November 24. The youngster asserted that he's going to continue playing fearless and brave cricket.
Resuming his second innings on 90*, the left-hander reached a brilliant hundred by guiding a short ball from Hazlewood over the keeper for a maximum. Jaiswal went on to score 161 off 297, smashing 15 fours and three sixes.
At the end of the third day's play in Perth, the youngster reflected on the magnitude of his achievement (as quoted by The Hindu):
“For me, all the centuries are amazing, but this will be special because I really wanted to do it. I always wanted to come to Australia and do well here. We all knew that the ball will bounce here, and I prepared for it.”
Asked about his audacious ramp off Hazlewood to reach his hundred, the confident 22-year-old replied:
“I knew he was going to bowl a bouncer, and I was ready for that ball. Luckily, he did, and I played that shot, and I enjoyed it."
Jaiswal said that he wants to continue playing in the same aggressive manner and express himself:
“I am going to go and enjoy and be fearless. I will go and take a brave decision. I will try and do what is required for my team. It is amazing to play against such great bowlers."
During his knock, Jaiswal featured in a 38-run stand with Virat Kohli, who also got a hundred. About the experience of batting with the legend, the left-hander said:
“Today, I was playing and running with him. It was a very special moment. I try to develop my own game by talking to senior players and by understanding how I can add certain things to my game. I still have a lot to learn.”
The opener was looking good for a double hundred but perished in disappointing fashion, cutting a short and wide ball from Mitchell Marsh straight to point.
Jaiswal has converted all his Test tons into 150s
Jaiswal brought up his fourth Test match hundred in only his 15th match. Amazingly, all his four three-digit scores have been over 150.
The 22-year-old scored 171 on debut against West Indies in Roseau. He also scored 209 and 214* against England in consecutive Tests in Visakhapatnam and Rajkot respectively before hammering his fourth hundred in Perth on Sunday.
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