'Superb' Yashasvi Jaiswal will be challenged by three 'world-class' Australian pacers in Border-Gavaskar Trophy - Matthew Hayden

Yashasvi Jaiswal averages 68 after nine test matches so far in his career.

Former Australia opener Matthew Hayden is excited about the contest between young India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and Australia’s three premier seamers in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25.

Later this year, India will tour Australia for a five-match test series, starting November 22. This is the first time since 1992 that these two teams will compete against each other across five tests in a series.

While this could very well be the last test series in Australia for the likes of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, this will be the first tour Down Under for Jaiswal, barring any injury or sudden loss of form in the home season before the tour.

I’m looking forward to seeing how Yashasvi Jaiswal adjusts on bouncy tracks: Hayden

Veteran Aussie off-spinner Nathan Lyon has already hailed Jaiswal as a “massive challenge” for the bowlers, after seeing his performances in the test series against England, where the left-hander recorded 712 runs with two double centuries to his name.

Now, Hayden has lauded Jaiswal’s “superb” strokeplay. However, the former opener reckons Jaiswal’s attacking game could come unstuck against Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood.

On Wednesday, speaking on the sidelines of the CEAT Cricket Award in Mumbai, Hayden said, “I think he’s a package. Yes, his strokeplay is superb. His ability, in particular, to hit on the up through the covers is phenomenal. [But] that’ll also have its vulnerabilities. I’m looking forward to seeing how he adjusts on bouncy tracks. We did notice a few times in the IPL that he’s a very hard hitter of the ball – [with the] pull shots in particular.

“But that’ll be challenged by three world-class speedsters, assuming they’re all fit, and on much bigger grounds as well – grounds where it has to almost be the perfect contact for that ball to sail over for six. You can get caught easily, three-quarters of the way in the fence. So they have little adjustments that world-class players like Jaiswal will make for sure.”

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