New Delhi, November 12 (IANS). Cricket fans are eagerly waiting for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Team India and Australian team are also busy strengthening their preparations. Meanwhile, former Australian Test captain Tim Paine supported young wicketkeeper-batsman Dhruv Jurel and said that this young player can make a good impact in the series.
Jurel, who has played just three matches, was primarily included in the squad that toured India for the five-match Test series in Australia as a backup to regular wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant. He impressed with innings of 80 and 68 for India A in the match played against Australia A in Melbourne last week.
After watching the right-hander’s batting performance against Australia A, the former Australian captain feels the 23-year-old can play as a specialist batsman in the opening Test of the summer in Perth.
Paine said, “There is a player who has kept wickets in a few Test matches for India. In the three Test matches he has played, he averages 63 and his name is Dhruv Jurel. I don’t know if you saw many highlights. Whether he is or not, but after seeing him bat (against Australia A), it would surprise me if he doesn’t play.”
Paine said that even though Jurel is a wicketkeeper, he has watched his batting on this tour and over the last few months. Therefore he deserves a place in Team India.
Juran made his Test cricket debut against England in Rajkot earlier this year. He kept wicket in all those matches and also scored 46 runs with the bat after coming in at No. 8 during India’s spectacular win.
After this, he played an inning of 90 runs in the test played in Ranchi. Overall, he scored 46, 90, 39 not out and 15 in his four Test innings.
The first Test of the five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy will begin in Perth on November 22.
–IANS
AMJ/AS
