Not that I think like a batsman, I am one: Jadeja

Jadeja was polite but sarcasm was not lost when he said that it's not as if he fancies himself as a "specialist batsman" because he is indeed one. Jadeja's career-best Test score of 90 helped India take a 134-run first innings lead, thereby putting England under immense pressure on third day of the game. 

"It's not that I consider myself as a batsman, I am a batsman," Jadeja asserted when someone asked whether he has become more responsible while batting which was evident in his defensive game on Monday. In fact to drive home a point, he took the help of statistics. "I have been scoring runs in first-class cricket at an average of 53 (43 as per espncricinfo records), if you leave aside Test matches, that is. It's not the first time that I have made 90 runs. Yes, may be a first in Tests but I have an idea that I can bat.

I wasn't in a hurry, since it was a slow wicket with less turn. I knew after 50, 60 or 70 balls, I can up my scoring rate," said the Saurashtra all-rounder. Asked to compare his 68 at Lord's with on Monday's knock, Jadeja said: 

"I think any good innings that you have played for India is important. Even during this innings, we were in a situation where we were 5 for 150 (156) and from that situation to guide the team to a good position was challenging. Jayant (Yadav), (Ravichandran) Ashwin and myself spoke to each other, build the innings and luckily we are now in a good position considering that they are still 70 behind (56 actually) and are four down.

" He said that since England was bowling "boring lines", he decided to take them on during post lunch session.