Analysis of Prithvi Shaw's debut Test ton as teenager makes history

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  • A classy debut by Prithvi Shaw: Image - ICC/Twitter.

    It was a day to savour for young Prithvi Shaw after he was handed his debut in the first Test between India and West Indies at Rajkot on Thursday.

    The 18-year-old was personally handed his maiden Indian cap by none other than Virat Kohli and was quickly thrust into the limelight after the hosts’ skipper won the toss and elected to bat first.

    Shaw then scripted history by slamming a majestic 134 off just 154 balls as India’s batsmen prospered on a flat track at Rajkot.

    Here, we take a closer look at the teenager’s maiden Test innings.

    STATISTICS

    RUNS SCORED: 134

    BALLS FACED: 154

    BOUNDARIES: 19

    SIXES: 0

    STRIKE-RATE: 87.01

    30-SECOND REPORT

    Shaw walked out to open the innings alongside KL Rahul and got off the mark with a fluent backfoot punch through the covers. He saw his opening partner dismissed for a duck in the very first over but showed no signs of any nerves in his maiden outing as he raced away to a 56-ball half-century. Displaying aggressive intent from the word go, the right-hander punished any wayward deliveries by the West Indies bowlers as he primarily dealt in boundaries. Forging a 206-run stand for the second wicket with Cheteshwar Pujara, Shaw brought up a scintillating ton on debut off just 99 balls and became the youngest Indian batsman to do so in the process. His 134-run batting exhibition was brought to a tame end in the final over before tea but not before he had put India in a commanding position on day one.

    GOT RIGHT

    It is easy for any youngster to get bogged down by pressure when the spotlight is so bright but Shaw took it all in his stride as he nonchalantly marched on to a fluent hundred. His batting technique might not be the most technically pleasing to the eye but it was mighty effective against a West Indies’ bowling attack which was low in quality. He showed no fear in playing his natural game and put the pressure on the bowlers instead with some crisp shot making. His mental approach to his debut innings was the most pleasing aspect.

    GOT WRONG

    Rarely was the teenager troubled in his 154-ball stay with a couple of flashes through the slips being the only lapses in concentration. If there is any criticism to be labelled at Shaw for Thursday’s innings, then it is the manner in which he threw his wicket away. Perhaps in too much of a hurry, Shaw lobbed a simple return catch to Devendra Bishoo after the ball stopped on him. Rather than check his stroke, the 18-year-old went ahead with it and paid the ultimate price in what was the last over before tea. It was a moment which called for a little caution and showed the inexperience in the youngster despite his prodigious talents.

    VERDICT – 9/10

    It is easy to see why Shaw has been compared to a young Sachin Tendulkar after his maiden Test innings. The fellow Mumbai batsman is now the second-youngest Indian batsman after Tendulkar to register a Test hundred and although his batting style may vastly differ from the maestro, Shaw’s fearlessness is very much reminiscent of the legendary batsman in his younger days.

    The conditions were set-up perfect for Shaw to thrive with West Indies missing the services of Jason Holder and Kemar Roach but the opportunity still needed to be taken. It was one taken with gleeful hands by the teenager whose remarkable rise from his junior cricket days continues. His debut innings should see the youngster get an extended run with the Test squad and it will be exciting to watch his progress in international cricket from here on.

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