Mumbai: After 10 opening partners in the last four years before Keaton Jennings came along, Alastair Cook will be a relieved man, seeing his 11th opening partner score a debut Test century here on Thursday.
The youngster from Durham became the 14th cricketer to bring up a ton on debut against India and is also the 19th England cricketer to have scored a hundred in his opening Test.
The 24-year-old was visibly happy as he talked about the very special knock against Virat Kohli and Co. at Wankhede Stadium.
“I suppose waking up this morning if someone said to me you will get a Test match hundred, I would have put them off. I woke up at 5 o’clock this morning thinking I will miss the bus. So I jumped out of bed, settled myself down and then I saw the time. It’s been a dream come true and surreal that it’s come on debut,” said Keaton.
The South Africa-born-cricketer, who played for the Proteas for a significant amount of time before opting to represent his adopted country, also spoke about what Cook had said as he prepared to face Ravi Ashwin for the first time.
“He was trying to give me a feel of what he went through facing him before. Ashwins’ a really good bowler, he’s one of the best in the world.
“I think his average against left-handers was 18 when we walked out to bat. You don’t get stats like that from not knowing what you are doing.
“You try and come up with a game plan against him and try and back yourself and your technique and process to combat him,” said Keaton, who was drafted into the England side following Haseeb Hameed’s finger injury in the Mohali Test.
Son of former South African and Royal Challengers Bangalore coach, Ray Jennings, Keaton accompanied his father when he was with RCB and saw the likes of Kohli, Anil Kumbler — now India coach — and Rahul Dravid from close quarters.
Asked whether he had a chat with his father, Keaton answered in negative. “Not yet, we had to hand our phones off this morning. I’ll try to get in touch with him tonight and hopefully share some special memories together.”
