Ravindra Jadeja available for game: Kuldeep Yadav

Rajkot, February 13

India’s Ravindra Jadeja is making steady progress in training after a hamstring injury and the experienced all-rounder would be available for this week’s third Test against England in Rajkot, spinner Kuldeep Yadav said today.

Jadeja had been recalled to the Indian squad with selectors keeping an eye on his fitness before the third Test which begins on Thursday.

“He’s doing his routine. He did one session yesterday as well. I think he’s available,” Kuldeep told reporters.

Jadeja’s return could mean Kuldeep or Axar Patel make way, although there is a chance the trio could feature as batsman KL Rahul is ruled out with a right quadriceps issue. “If I get the opportunity I’ll be more than happy. I don’t think too much about whether I’m playing or not,” he said.

Kuldeep also said that rank turners might come into play but admitted that sporting tracks, like the ones seen in the first two games, are “good for cricket”.

“Overall, everything is important. The fast bowlers also come into play, like you saw in the last match. So (good wickets) are good for cricket. It is not (the case) that you will not get to see rank turners going forward. Hopefully, in the future you will see (turning tracks),” Kuldeep said. — Agencies

Stokes’ 100th Test: Pope is all praise for him

Rajkot: England captain Ben Stokes has changed the game of cricket in a “lot of respects”, says batter Ollie Pope, as the maverick all-rounder gears up for his 100th Test appearance in a couple of days’ time. Having also played a vital role in England’s white-ball revival, Stokes is on the cusp of joining the list of players who have played more than 100 games in Test cricket. “He has probably changed the game in a lot of respects, he has just got a way of bringing out the very best of him when the team needs it. Even in the Ashes at Lord’s, which I remember thinking about ‘how does he obviously take it to a new level when all the pressure is on him’,” Pope said.