Jadeja keen to answer critics

India

Cricket365
December 29, 2013

India spinner Ravindra Jadeja believes a maiden overseas five-wicket haul during the second Test against South Africa in Durban would answer his critics.

Several eyebrows were raised when the left-arm spinner was selected ahead Ravichandran Ashwin and Pragyan Ojha for the match, but it has proven to be an inspired choice as Jadeja claimed four wickets in 37 tidy overs.

"Critics have always said that I can only spin the ball while playing in India. It was my dream to come to South Africa and take five wickets in a Test innings," said Jadeja.

"I have got four at the moment. So I am hoping I can come back tomorrow and pick another one and show my critics that I can spin the ball here as well.

"I was just trying to bowl in the right areas. There is a rough forming for the left-arm spinner so I was trying to exploit that as well. The odd ball was turning and I was thinking of not giving them any room and bowling stump to stump.

"Wickets back in India are different. You can play two spinners there because there is turn and bounce. Here, we get only foot marks to work with. Also it is very difficult for the spinners with the Kookaburra ball. So I think one spinner is enough in the playing XI.

"I think AB de Villiers' wicket was the most crucial one because they were batting very well. We need to get early wickets in the morning so we can get enough time to bat well in the second innings and put a decent total in the second innings as well. We need to come back and get Jacques Kallis quickly."

Jadeja's strong performance in Durban has left Ashwin as a doubtful inclusion for the tour to New Zealand after the off-spinner went wicketless in the first Test in Johannesburg.

"I only found out on day one of the Test, ahead of the toss that I am playing," he concluded.