One noticeable trend in the ongoing IND vs ENG Test series is the failure of many batsmen to convert promising starts into substantial innings. Former Indian men’s cricket team mental conditioning coach, Paddy Upton, however, believes currently young Yashasvi Jaiswal is an exception to that trend. Upton also shared insights on the challenges of sustaining long innings in Test cricket and emphasized the significance of maintaining mental and emotional resilience.
In Vizag, Yashasvi Jaiswal’s marathon innings, stretching over a day towards a double century, contrasted sharply with the lack of any other Indian batter spending more than 90 minutes batting.
He likened players arriving at Test cricket with depleted mental and emotional reserves to running a cell phone on low battery, highlighting the need for a full charge to endure the demands of the day.
Upton underscored the draining effects of cricket, travel, and the fast-paced nature of T20 cricket on players’ energy levels, impacting their ability to maintain focus over extended periods. He remarked, “So what is happening is players today are arriving at Test cricket with their mental and emotional fuel tanks on low.” speaking to Indian Express
Commenting on exceptions like Yashasvi Jaiswal, who have demonstrated the ability to adapt and thrive in Test cricket, Upton noted the importance of managing mental energy levels.
He highlighted Jaiswal’s youthfulness and hunger, suggesting that younger players may possess the resilience to operate effectively on lower energy levels compared to more seasoned counterparts.
Upton added, “Some players can switch between the formats and they can change their high-intensity focus to low.”
“Jaiswal is at the beginning of his career and has lots to prove, he is young and fresh compared to a player who has been playing for 7-9 years, they are not able to operate on low energy. A player that has youth and hunger makes up for that.” he concluded.
