Cricket

Ravindra Jadeja's exceptional bowling performance in the ongoing Test match against Australia has earned him another five-wicket haul, his 14th in Test cricket. However, the all-rounder acknowledged the challenging conditions on the slow-turning pitch, which made bowling a demanding task.Jadeja's success stemmed from his ability to mix up his deliveries, targeting good length spots and exploiting the variable bounce and abrasive surface. He admitted that the wicket required significant effort to generate pace, indicating that Ravichandran Ashwin may have lost some velocity in his deliveries."I thought you need to mix and match (in terms of speed). The wicket has bounce but off the surface, the ball isn't taking off. Unless you put in a lot of shoulders and get the revs, it is difficult," Jadeja explained.Despite the arduous conditions, Jadeja praised the collective effort of the team, including Washington Sundar's impressive bowling performance. He emphasized the importance of the batters performing well to secure a first-innings lead.When asked about surpassing Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma in terms of Test wickets, Jadeja revealed that he only checks statistics when not actively involved in a series.Reflecting on the loss of three quick wickets towards the end of the day, Jadeja set a target of batting well enough to gain a 150-run lead on Saturday.

The fifth and final Test match between India and England, scheduled to commence on Thursday in Dharamsala, is anticipated to feature a slow-turning pitch, as reported by the Indian Express. Untimely rainfall has hindered the ground staff's efforts to prepare the surface, prompting discussions between the curators and the Indian team management regarding the pitch's composition.India's spinners have been instrumental in securing the series victory for the hosts, and the Dharamsala pitch is expected to provide ample assistance to the likes of Rohit Sharma and his teammates. The slow and turning nature of the surface will favor the Indian spinners, who have played a pivotal role in the team's success throughout the series.Meanwhile, the Test match will witness a historic milestone as India's off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and England's batter Jonny Bairstow will become only the fourth pair of players to feature in their 100th Test match together. This exclusive club includes former England captain Michael Atherton and Alec Stewart, who achieved the feat against the West Indies in 2000.In 2006, South Africa's Jacques Kallis, Shaun Pollock, and Stephen Fleming played their 100th Test in the South Africa-New Zealand match in Centurion. The third instance occurred in 2013 when Alastair Cook and Michael Clarke reached the milestone during the England-Australia Ashes contest in Perth.Ashwin and Bairstow will represent their respective teams in the fifth and final Test in Dharamsala, marking the second occasion when two players from opposing teams will play their 100th Test in the same game. Notably, just a day after the India-England match concludes, New Zealand captain Tim Southee and his predecessor Kane Williamson will also play their 100th Test together.