‘It used to annoy me’: England pace legend questions Jadeja’s sword celebration

Former England pace bowler Stuart Broad has spoken about his occasional frustration with India's veteran spinner Ravindra Jadeja, specifically regarding the batsman's distinctive sword-fighting celebration upon reaching certain scoring milestones. Jadeja, who averages over 40 with the bat against England, has recorded three centuries and 11 fifties against the English side.

Broad revealed on the For the Love of Cricket podcast that he would occasionally comment on Jadeja's celebration, questioning the need for such theatrics during a half-century. However, Broad maintained that he appreciated Jadeja's flair and skill, acknowledging him as a formidable opponent, particularly in India. England wicket-keeper Jos Buttler praised Jadeja's batting abilities, describing him as a "nightmare" to face, especially in India, where he often stepped up when his team needed runs.

Broad also noted Jadeja's underrated batting skills, suggesting that his numbers often left England's management unsure whether to play him or spin bowler Ravi Ashwin. The 37-year-old Jadeja holds the distinction of being one of the most accomplished Indian all-rounders of all time, accumulating over 7000 runs and 600 wickets across formats.

He is set to return to action on Saturday, when India will take on Sri Lanka in the first Test of a two-match series in Galle.