Alastair Cook suggests change in India's batting order for fifth Test vs England

After scoring a century batting at number five in the third Test against England, Ravindra Jadeja stuck to the same position in the next fixture. The move, however, did not turn out to be productive as Jadeja could not do anything impressive in the fourth Test played in Ranchi. The India allrounder scored 12 and 4 runs.

Former England skipper Alastair Cook has advised the Indian team management to demote Jadeja in the batting order. Cook felt Jadeja could not find the perfect balance between attack and defence under pressure.

“Jadeja in particular showed probably why he should be batting a little bit lower. Yes he can score runs but the ability, under pressure, to find that balance between attack and defence under pressure – pressure does funny thing to you," Cook said on TNT Sports.

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“Jadeja is a world-class all-rounder, but batting at five there he struggled in terms of taking no risks because he didn’t want to get out or trying to put a bit of pressure back on as a batter,” the ex-England cricketer added.

India wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel, who made his debut this series, was in fine form with the bat in the fourth match. The 23-year-old exhibited solid batting and played fine knocks in both the innings.

Jurel scored 90 in the first innings and contributed with another handy knock of unbeaten 39 in the second. Cook suggested that Jurel should be promoted in the batting order after proving his mettle with the bat.

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“But Jurel found that balance perfectly with his foot movement and sharpness of mind," Cook explained.

England kicked off the five-match Test series on a promising note with a win. India bounced back in the very next fixture. Rohit Sharma-led side carried that momentum and won the next two games as well to claim an unassailable 3-1 lead. The fifth and final Test match of the series is scheduled to start from 7 March in Dharamsala.