Could a Couple of Inches Have Changed Jaiswal's Fate?

Manchester, July 26 (NationPress) Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar opines that Yashasvi Jaiswal’s dismissal during the second innings of the ongoing fourth Test against England stemmed from a slight variation in the ball, which resulted in the transition from a confident stroke to a soft dismissal.

In the opening over of India's second innings, veteran all-rounder Chris Woakes managed to get one to move away sufficiently, catching the leading edge of a squared-up Jaiswal's bat, which was expertly caught by Joe Root with one hand as he went low to his right at slip, leading to Jaiswal's unfortunate duck.

“Upon analyzing Jaiswal's dismissal, it’s clear that the delivery that dismissed him was fuller, yet it landed in the same area as the previous ball — which he had handled effectively. Thus, this is a batter whose mind seemed a bit confused. Just a couple of inches made all the difference between a confident stroke and a soft dismissal,” stated Manjrekar on JioHotstar.

He elaborated on how fatigue affected the young batters, with both Jaiswal and B Sai Sudharsan being dismissed for ducks before lunch on day four. “This was somewhat expected, considering England's performance with the bat in their first innings. That brief session before lunch today felt like a reality check. It's entirely human for players like Yashasvi Jaiswal or Sai Sudharsan to fall victim in such a manner.”

“We’re now anticipating the impossible from a young batting order that has performed admirably thus far, but is now facing a significant deficit. These are situations where even experienced batters struggle. We observed a hint of hesitance,” he added.

“Chris Woakes displayed intelligence by bowling around the wicket, starting with a full delivery followed by a shorter one, which is uncommon. Jofra Archer also unleashed a fierce delivery that had real bite. The batting order raises concerns, especially with Rishabh Pant likely out. Beyond him, it’s just Jadeja and Washington Sundar. We should prepare for the worst — anything better would be a pleasant surprise,” he explained.

Former England fast bowler Stuart Broad praised Ben Stokes for scoring 141, marking his first Test hundred in two years, as the hosts reached 669, taking a lead of 311 runs. Stokes has now joined the ranks of just three players, including Sir Garfield Sobers and Jacques Kallis, to achieve the remarkable feat of 7,000 runs and 200 wickets.

“While Ben Stokes isn’t typically motivated by personal achievements, this century clearly mattered to him. It had been two years since his last hundred, and he hadn’t taken a five-wicket haul in eight years before this Test — making it an exceptional week for him at Old Trafford,” he remarked.

“He excels in critical moments, acutely aware of when the pressure peaks, and consistently delivers when it counts. This wasn’t a century in a drawn match — it was crafted to propel the game forward.”

“Even after reaching this milestone, he quickly added another 40 runs, providing England with an opportunity to bowl three challenging overs at India. It was also an emotional innings — a tribute to his late father. However, what will resonate even more with him is if it leads to an England victory,” he concluded.