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"He Shook His Legs": Stuart Broad Decodes Jaiswal-Sai Collapse After Tiring Fielding

Soumyajit Dutta

Stuart Broad analyses Sai-Jaiswal failure in India's second innings [Source: @RichKettle07/X.com]Stuart Broad analyses Sai-Jaiswal failure in India's second innings [Source: @RichKettle07/X.com]

India's second innings began catastrophically in the Manchester Test, crumbling to 0/2 within Chris Woakes' first over after conceding a mammoth 311-run first-innings lead to England. Yashasvi Jaiswal edged to slip off the second ball, while debutant Sai Sudharsan fell for a golden duck, feathering an attempted leave to second slip.

The collapse followed India's gruelling 157.1 overs in the field, where England amassed 669 runs across nearly five sessions. This exhaustive effort, according to Stuart Broad, left the young openers drained before they even faced a ball.

Broad Opines Fatigue Crippled India's Top-Order

The England pace legend pinpointed visible physical strain as the root cause, particularly noting Yashasvi Jaiswal’s immediate body language.

"Fresh legs, fresh bowlers. If you give your bowlers two nights' sleep in a Test match, they will come out and make the ball talk. It's an interesting one, Jaiswal, second ball, tried to cut one and missed, and he immediately shook his legs. You know what you do when you've got lactic acid in your legs, you've got to shake them out and get some feeling. That to me showed that mentally and physically, he was tired, and he was trying to switch himself on," Broad told JioHotstar on air during the lunch break on Day 4. 

Stuart Broad however, expressed sympathy for Sudharsan, emphasising the brutal toll of extended fielding on a Test newcomer.

"Sudharsan... it was complete mental and physical tiredness, which, in your second Test match, when you have fielded for over 160 overs, is completely understandable," he added.

India Need To Fight Back Hard

With India trailing 1-2 and facing a monumental task to save the Test, Broad’s analysis underscores the psychological and physical disadvantage of England’s dominant batting display. The visitors' fightback hinges on overcoming profound fatigue against a rejuvenated English attack.

As India looks to take control of the clash, the match is likely to end in a draw with only one day remaining, and India is still going strong with eight wickets in hand. If the fourth Test ends in a draw, the final Test will be a do-or-die encounter for the Men in Blue, as another draw would hand the series to England.