Jadeja's English Challenge: Can He Turn the Tide?

Ravindra Jadeja's performance in England has come under scrutiny due to his difficulty in making an impact on pitches outside of India. His natural speed, which serves him well on Indian pitches, has been less effective on English tracks, especially during the fifth day of the opening Test at Headingley.

In particular, Jadeja struggled to combat Ben Duckett's reverse sweeps, as his deliveries could not exploit the rough created by Indian pacers outside the left-hander's off-stump. With a match-haul of just 1/172 in the Test, questions loom over his selection for Edgbaston, especially if Jasprit Bumrah is unavailable.

While Jadeja remains a sought-after all-rounder for his batting skills, his bowling needs adaptation to succeed in the remaining matches. Analysts highlight his tendency to bowl at consistent speeds, which may not generate the necessary turn against aggressive English batsmen.

(With inputs from agencies.)