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Ravi Jadeja's staggering display ahead of Aussie Test tour of India

The allrounder sent a warning to Australia ahead of the four match Test series.

Riley Morgan
·Sports Reporter
·4-min read
Ravindra Jadeja (pictured middle right) celebrates a wicket.
Ravindra Jadeja (pictured middle right) has returned to cricket after five months out after knee surgery. Find out more here.

Indian spinner Ravindra Jadeja has sounded a huge warning to Australia ahead of the Tour in February after snaring a seven-wicket haul upon his return to cricket. Jadeja has been out of the game for five months following knee surgery last year.

However, the 34-year-old has signalled his intention for the upcoming test series against Australia after taking 7-53 off 17.1 overs for Saurashtra against Tamil Nadu in a Ranji Trophy game. Jadeja's inclusion in India's squad for the four-Test series beginning on February 9 in Nagpur was subject to fitness, but the allrounder passed with flying colours.

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Most importantly, Jadeja got through 41.1 overs across the two innings - taking eight wickets all told - including an unbroken 12-over spell on a turning wicket on Thursday. His inclusion for India will be huge with Nagpur expected to once again favour the spinners during the opening match.

While Jadeja was confident he would be ready for Nagpur, he had promised before the game to take things "slowly" after his extensive spell out of cricket. "I am used to bowling long spells," he told Indian news agency PTI.

"Nothing new for me. I was enjoying ... ball was turning, the pitch was assisting me. When we were batting, the odd ball was spinning, the odd ball was keeping low, so I was keen to bowl a long spell. Luckily I got wickets."

Asked about his fitness having not played any cricket since India's Asia Cup match with Hong Kong at the end of August, Jadeja said he felt "no discomfort ... not really" and that the bowling workload showed him he was "almost there".

Ravindra Jadeja ready for Australia tour

After the match, Jadeja was asked if he was ready for Australia's visit. And the all-rounder was confident on his return. "Yes, Yes, Yes," he told reporters.

He added: "So feeling very good, playing a game after a long time. Hopefully I am good to go now. When you take a five-for in a first-class game it is always good."

Ravindra Jadeja (pictured) celebrates a catch.
Ravindra Jadeja (pictured) is set to make a comeback to Test cricket against Australia. (Photo by LINDSEY PARNABY/AFP via Getty Images) (LINDSEY PARNABY via Getty Images)

Jadeja, who needed an operation after tearing a knee ligament, has been out for longer than at any time in his career and has had setbacks on the road to recovery after initially hoping to return for India's tour of Bangladesh in December.

He'll be at the national team training camp in Nagpur, itching to get another crack at Australia after enjoying taking 63 Test wickets against them, including three five-fors, over an eight-year spell.

with AAP

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