Ravindra Jadeja creates history, scores third first-class triple ton

December 3, 2012

jadeja3Ton


Mumbai, December 3: Discarded India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was more in the news last season for the amount he fetched in the IPL auctions for season 5. Chennai Super Kings, owned by BCCI president N Srinivasan, bagged the Saurashtra cricketer for an astronomical $2 million (Rs 9.72 crore approx) after winning the tie-breaker that followed a theatrical bidding war with Deccan Chargers.

On Sunday though, he made news for his on-field exploits. The left-hander scored 320 not out against Railways at Rajkot and became the first Indian to post three first-class triple hundreds, surpassing the feats of Vijay Hazare, Raman Lamba, VVS Laxman, Wasim Jaffer and Virender Sehwag.

Jadeja had scored 303 against Gujarat at Surat last month. His first triple ton was registered against Orissa (314 ) at Cuttack last November. While Sehwag's triple tons have come at the Test level, both Jaffer and Laxman's epics have come in the Ranji Trophy.

What's more, Jadeja ensured that his name will be mentioned in the same breath as that of Don Bradman as he became only the eighth man in history to have three 300-plus scores in first-class cricket, joining Bradman, Brian Lara, Bill Ponsford, Wally Hammond, WG Grace, Graeme Hick and Mike Hussey.

Jadeja hit 28 fours and seven sixes during his marathon 11-and-a-half-hour knock, facing 491 deliveries. "It's a tremendous achievement," exclaimed out-of-favour Indian opener and Mumbai stalwart Jaffer.

"To score two triple hundreds in a season, which is just five matches old, is not a joke. He was always rated highly, but was known more as a swashbuckling batsman who was a good bowler and exceptional fielder.

"But he has worked on his game and this spell out of the Indian team seems to have made him hungrier and has forced him to work harder," Jaffer added.

Saurashtra coach Debu Mitra, who has worked with players like Jadeja and rising India star Cheteshwar Pujara since their under-19 days and who has been with the side since nine years, endorses that view.

"He doesn't get satisfied easily these days and wants to work hard. He keeps telling me to watch him in the nets and even when I tell him that all is fine, he will ask, 'Sir, dekho kuch gadbad to nahin (See is there is a problem with my batting )," Mitra said.

Jadeja, who has represented India in 58 ODIs and 12 T20s, hasn't yet played Tests. Coach Mitra says the One-day tag is unfair to him. "He is ready for Tests as he is willing to show patience and can bat for long periods. His bowling too has improved a lot as his 13 wickets in four matches show."


Deconstructing his ward's knock, Mitra said: "As we were 90 for 4, I had told him, bahar ka ball mat khelna (leave outgoing deliveries). Of the 491 deliveries he faced, he must have left close to 200. That's application. The only time he got aggressive was when he was approaching his double hundred. But he settled down again. He wants to score big hundreds these days."

Jadeja hails from Jamnagar, a city known for its big oil companies.

His recent cricketing feats have only made the city, 337 kms west of Gujarat capital Gandhinagar, that much slicker.

BATTING ON & ON...

Ravindra Jadeja, with his unbeaten 320 vs Railways in a Ranji Trophy match, has become the first Indian batsman to post three triple hundreds in first-class cricket. Jadeja is also the top run-scorer in the Ranji Trophy this season, with 645 runs at 161.25 in four matches.



EARLIER TRIPLE TONS

314 vs Orissa at Cuttack in Nov 2011
303 not out vs Gujarat at Surat in Nov 2012

FIRST-CLASS BATTING RECORD

Match 42, Runs 3017, Ave 53.87, 100s 7, 50s 10

OTHERS WITH THREE OR MORE TRIPLE TONS IN FIRST-CLASS CRICKET

Don Bradman (6), Bill Ponsford and Wally Hammond (4 each), WG Grace, Graeme Hick, Brian Lara, Mike Hussey (3 each).



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News Network
June 13,2020

Mumbai, Jun 13: Vasant Raiji, who was India's oldest first-class cricketer at 100, died in Mumbai in the wee hours of Saturday.

Raiji was 100 years old and is survived by his wife and two daughters.

"He (Raiji) passed away at 2.20 am in his sleep at his residence in Walkeshwar in South Mumbai due to old-age," his son-in-law Sudarshan Nanavati told PTI.

Raiji, a right-handed batsman, played nine first-class matches in the 1940s, scoring 277 runs with 68 being his highest score.

He made his debut for a Cricket Club of India team that played Central Provinces and Berar in Nagpur in 1939.

His Mumbai debut happened in 1941 when the team played Western India under the leadership of Vijay Merchant.

Raiji, also a cricket historian and chartered accountant, was 13 when India played its first Test match at the Bombay Gymkhana in South Mumbai.

Cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar and former Australian skipper Steve Waugh had paid a courtesy visit to Raiji at his residence in January when he had turned 100.

It has been learnt that the cremation will take place at the Chandanwadi crematorium in South Mumbai on Saturday afternoon.

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News Network
March 21,2020

London, Mar 21: The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has suspended all professional cricket till May 28, delaying the start of the new season, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The ECB took the decision following discussions with the First-Class Counties, the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and the Professional Cricketers' Association (PCA).

"It was agreed that, given the current information available, a seven-week delay to the start of the season is the most appropriate approach," an ECB media statement said.

The Board also announced that it is working on three new options, including the three-Test series against West Indies, the T20 Cup and the women's schedule against India, for a possible start in June, July or August.

"Close liaison with the Government will continue, with discussions on the potential of starting the season behind closed doors and giving sports fans the opportunity to live broadcast action," the statement said on Friday.

"The potential for reduced versions of competitions, should the season become further truncated, will also be discussed."

The ECB said it will meet as needed to review the position and make further decisions as the UK situation unfolds.

"During this period of deep uncertainty it is the ECB’s first priority to protect the wellbeing of everyone within the cricket family, from players, to fans and colleagues across the game,’’ ECB Chief Executive Officer Tom Harrison said.

"The decision to delay the start of the season has been essential, given the circumstances the nation faces. I am reassured by the collaborative effort from across the game that together, we will make the very best of whatever length of season we are able to safely schedule in the coming months," he added.

He said this would give the ECB time to keep pace with a fast-moving situation and continue to plan for how a revised season might look.

"Critically, we can also remain as flexible and adaptable as possible, within the obvious restrictions we face."

Last week, England's tour of Sri Lanka was called off mid tournament in view of the rising threat of the pandemic.

"Securing the future of the game will be a primary focus as we plot a revised schedule with an emphasis on the most financially important forms of the game for the counties across international and domestic cricket," Harrison said.

The COVID-19 global death toll has climbed past 11,000 with more than 250,000 infected. In UK, close to 4000 have tested positive so far and 177 died.

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News Network
January 28,2020

Columbo, Jan 28: The Sri Lanka Cricket Board on Monday announced the 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC Women`s T20 World Cup, slated to commence from February 21. The board also announced five standby players for the ensuing tournament.

The squad members are -- Chamari Atapattu (captain), Harshitha Madavi (vice captain), Anushka Sanjeewani, Hansima Karunaratne, Shashikala Siriwardene, Nilakshi De Silva, Ama Kanchana, Kavisha Dilhari, Udeshika Probodhani, Achini Kulasuriya, Hasini Perera, Sathya Sandeepani, Umesha Thimashini, Sugandika Kumari, Dilani Manodara.

The standby players are -- Sachini Nisansala, Prasadani Weerakkody, Oshadi Ranasinghe, Tharika Sewwandi, Inoka Ranaweera.

Sri Lanka will take on New Zealand in their opening encounter on February 22.

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