India vs England: Keaton Jennings admits dream debut started with fear he had missed team bus
The 24-year-old became the first England player since Jonathan Trott against Australia at The Oval in 2009 to reach three figures on debut and only the 19th overall
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Your support makes all the difference.Keaton Jennings admitted his dream debut started with the fear he had missed the team bus such were his nerves before he struck a century on the first day of this Fourth Test against India.
The Durham opener only flew into Mumbai 72 hours before the start of this match after being summoned from the England Lions tour of the UAE as an injury replacement for Haseeb Hameed.
However, the Durham opener seized his chance superbly to become the first England player since Jonathan Trott against Australia at The Oval in 2009 to reach three figures on debut and only the 19th overall.
England could not take full advantage of either Jennings’ perfect start to his international career or winning the toss as India fought back with four wickets from off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin to restrict Alastair Cook’s side to 288 for five.
Yet nothing could take away from the performance of their latest debutant, who admitted to a sleepless night before his landmark achievement.
“Waking up this morning, if someone had said to me 'you'll get a Test match hundred' I'd have bitten their arm off,” said Jennings.
“I woke up at 5am, thinking I'd missed the bus, so jumped out of bed, panicked where everything was then settled myself down when I saw the time.
“It’s been a dream come true, and it’s just surreal that it’s come on debut. It’s been an incredible day, an incredible 72 hours.”
Jennings was dropped on nought off the bowling of Mohammed Shami and also escaped a tight Indian lbw review on 10 thanks to Umpire’s Call on impact. “When the ball looped up to gully, my heart was in my mouth and I just kind of thought ‘Oh no, you’ve got nought in your first innings'.
“Thankfully, it hit his hand and went out. So I had a little bit of luck, but I suppose that’s the way the game goes sometimes.
“At the time, I thought the lbw was close. When it got given not out, I thought I might have just crept outside the line. Again, I’m just really thankful the decision went in my favour instead of the other way round.”
Yet the Johannesburg-born batsman, son of former South Africa coach Ray Jennings, settled into the occasion superbly to reach three figures with a reverse sweep off the spin of Jayant Yadav shortly before tea.
“It’s been a shot over the last six to eight months that, touch wood, I’ve played fairly successfully,” said Jennings.
“I suppose at that moment [on 96] I looked at the scoreboard and thought ‘Well, would I rather get out caught first slip defending or at first slip trying to get to a hundred?'
“So I bit the bullet and went for it, and thankfully it hit the middle of the bat and went for four.”
The 24-year-old’s first innings was watched by Hameed, the man he replaced in England’s side after he broke a finger during the Third Test at Mohali.
Hameed, 19, went home for an operation to insert a metal plate into the little finger on his left hand last Friday before returning to India to watch the final two Tests.
And despite his disappointment at seeing his own impressive series cut short, Hameed was the first to offer Jennings congratulations on his achievement.
“I’m very happy for Keaton,” he said. “To make a convincing start is great for him and great for English cricket.
“But, of course, you want to be out there and be the one performing. I’m sure there’s something better in store for me out there, because of this injury. I’m a big believer in tough times bring out the best in you. I’ve found that in my short career so far.
“I’ve played against Keaton a few times and it’s great to see the way he’s gone about his business today. It’s no different to the way he’s played in county cricket. For him to have made the start he has is great.”
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