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Brett Lee praised Ravindra Jadeja as the best all-rounder for his fitness and fielding.
Ravindra Jadeja pulling out his signature ‘sword’ celebration (AP)
Ravindra Jadeja may not have had his best series with the ball during the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy against England, but his contribution with the bat was exceptional. The left-handed all-rounder scored 516 runs across the five-match series, including five half-centuries and a century. His performances in the second innings of several Tests were particularly significant, with his unbeaten knock in the Manchester Test standing out as a match-saving effort that helped India secure a draw against overwhelming odds. Jadeja’s ability to remain calm in critical situations once again highlighted his importance to the Indian team, not just as a bowler or fielder, but as a reliable batter in the middle order.
Former Australian speedster Brett Lee praised Jadeja, calling him the best all-rounder in the game today and stating that no one else comes close to matching his all-round value. However, Lee cautioned the 36-year-old to be careful with his trademark sword celebration. Jadeja famously twirls his bat like a sword after reaching a half-century or century, but Lee warned that such movements could put unnecessary strain on his rotator cuff and potentially cause injury.
What Did Brett Lee Say About Ravindra Jadeja?
“The thing with Jadeja, the only way I see him getting injured is doing a rotator cuff with his, the way he does a sword celebration. So, I love it. Look after your body. Don’t celebrate too hard,” Lee was quoted as saying on his YouTube channel.
“He’s punched out 85 Test matches for his country already, and I believe he will go past that magical 100 barrier. I mean, anyone who’s played 100 Tests for their country is a GOAT in my opinion. They are an absolute superstar. Longevity, being at the top of their game for so long. So I reckon, you know, another sort of 15 Tests, it’s about 2 years, I think he’ll go past the 100 mark,” he added.
Apart from his batting and bowling exploits, Lee praised Jadeja’s unmatched fitness and athleticism. He described him as arguably the fittest cricketer in the Indian team, someone who covers enormous ground in the field, executes sharp run-outs, and thrives in big moments.
“He has everything that a cricketer needs, and I think he actually ticks every single box. He does the basics right. He’s got a simple technique, no fuss. He runs and bowls accurately. He bowls the correct line length when needed. Gets through his overs quickly. We’ve spoken about how good he is in the field. Arguably the best in the world. 36 years of age, but the fittest,” said Lee.
“He’s the fittest in the team. He covers a lot of ground. He prides himself on being the fittest, and to me, that is probably the reason why he never shies away from those big moments. He likes to be in the game. He’s an entertainer. And he’s probably one of the factory cricketers that if you put everything into a mix, throw it into a bucket, mix all up, pick out your best cricketer, Jadeja will get the top of the list,” he added.
Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes on cricket content, ha…Read More
Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes on cricket content, ha… Read More
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