Alastair Cook backs Yashasvi Jaiswal’s fearless sledging of Mitchell Starc in the Perth Test | Cricket News – Times of India

Former England captain Alastair Cook commended Yashasvi Jaiswal, the India opener, for his impressive 161-run performance against Australia in the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Cook described Jaiswal as a “class player”. He also praised the young cricketer’s confidence in sledging fast bowler Mitchell Starc.
During the second day of the match, Jaiswal remarked to Starc, “You are coming too slow at me”. The fast bowler simply smiled and returned to his bowling mark.
“We’ve seen his celebration enough here, but it’s more enjoyable against Australia than England, certainly. And sledging Mitchell Starc, saying at a certain stage, I think he wasn’t on 100, he wasn’t on anything on a major score, but he’s telling him you’re bowling slow,” Cook said on TNT Sports.

Cook expressed surprise at Jaiswal’s boldness, particularly given Starc’s pace. He noted the confidence required for a 22-year-old to make such a comment.
“And I’ve faced Mitchell Starc and he certainly doesn’t bowl slow. And if he was bowling slow, I’d keep my mouth shut and not wind him up, but have the confidence to do that as a 22-year-old.”
Jaiswal’s current year’s Test run tally stands at 1280 from 12 matches. This places him second only to Joe Root, who has amassed 1338 runs in 15 Tests this year.
Cook highlighted Jaiswal’s impressive record at the top of the order. He emphasized the difficulty of batting in that position.
“I think he scored the most runs as any Indian player up to after 15 Test matches at the top of the order, which I’ll keep saying it, no one else believes me, it’s the hardest place to bat. What a classy player he is,” Cook added.
Jaiswal is within striking distance of a significant record. He needs 283 more runs by the end of 2024 to surpass Sachin Tendulkar‘s record for the most Test runs in a calendar year.