Top five Test bowling spells of Ravichandran Ashwin. Ravichandran Ashwin's top 5 bowling spells in Test cricket. Ashwin to play his 100th Test at Dharamshala.
Ravichandran Ashwin’s impact as one of the world-class off-spinners in Test cricket is indisputable. He has consistently displayed his skills and intelligence, and adapted himself with time since his Test debut in 2011. Ashwin’s ability to deceive the batters with his smartness and craft has been the hallmark of his career so far.
Because he keeps on bringing evolutions to his bowling, it becomes difficult for the batters to come up with a steady plan against him. Despite rare setbacks, Ashwin has propelled himself forward with resilience and determination to maintain effectiveness over the years. At the moment, Ashwin is the ninth-highest wicket-taker in the red-ball format with 507 scalps in 99 games at an average of 23.92.
A look at the top five bowling spells of Ashwin in Test cricket
4/62 and 3/59 against England, Edgbaston (2018)
R Ashwin’s performance in the opening Test of the 2018 series against England at Edgbaston displayed his versatility and effectiveness as a bowler. On a pitch that was helping the seamers initially, Ashwin drew the first blood with the dismissal of Alastair Cook (13). The ball pitched in the middle stump line and hit the top of the off stump. With an arm ball, he trapped Jos Buttler before the stumps to finish with 4/62 in the first innings and played a crucial role in restricting the hosts to 287.
In the second innings as the pitch began to slow down a little bit, Ashwin became more threatening. He produced the replica of Cook’s first innings dismissal. This time Ashwin drew the length back as the ball pitched in the leg stump and went on to disturb the top of the off stump. He found the outside edge of Keaton Jennings to end with 3/59 in the second innings. Even though India lost the close game by 31 runs, Ashwin had a terrific outing with seven wickets in the game.
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3/57 & 3/92 against Australia, Adelaide (2018)
India managed 250 in the first innings of the opening Test against Australia in 2018 at Adelaide. After an early damage, Australia recovered themselves but Ashwin came back to break the 45-run second wicket stand. His straight ball drifted in taking the inside edge of Marcus Harris (26), and popped up to the silly mid-off fielder. Shaun Marsh dragged a floated delivery onto the stumps as Ashwin finished with 3/57 in 34 overs in the first innings to reduce the hosts to 235.
India set a target of 323 runs. Ashwin broke the opening stand with the dismissal of Aaron Finch (11), who pressed forward to glove the tossed-up delivery. Usman Khawaja (8) ran down the track and found the mid-off fielder. Ashwin ended with 3/92 in 52.5 overs during the second innings as India earned a victory by 31 runs.
5/32 & 7/66 against South Africa, Nagpur (2015)
It was a low-scoring affair yet India ended with a 124-run win. Ravichandran Ashwin was the main architect behind the victory. Dean Elgar tried to cut Ashwin as the inside edge rolled onto his stumps. Hashim Amla tried to defend the ball, which after taking the toe end of Amla’s bat bounced off the wicket-keeper’s shoulder to end in the hands of the first slip. Ashwin ended with 5/32 as the Proteas were bundled out for just 79.
In the second innings, Ashwin became more lethal. He bowled a carrom ball to Ab de Villiers, who pitched on off and moved a hint to stick the batter right in front of the middle and off stump. Ashwin finished with 7/66 in the second innings to end with match figures of 12/98 as South Africa was destroyed for just 185 in the second innings.
3/146 & 6/61 against England, Chennai (2021)
The first Chennai Test against England in 2021 was an example of how Ashwin turned the game in India’s favour on many occasions. On a flat surface, England made 578 as Ashwin returned with 3/146 in 55.1 overs. India found themselves under pressure with a deficit of 241 runs.
On the very first ball of the second innings, Ashwin sent back Rory Burns, who edged the ball to the first slip. Ben Stokes looked to drive the ball through covers and got a thin edge to the wicket-keeper. Ashwin finished with figures of 6/61 in 17.3 overs. India went on to lose the game by 227 runs, but it was a huge positive for the hosts.
3/47 & 5/47 against England, Ahmedabad (2021)
Ashwin’s stellar performance during the fourth Test in Ahmedabad in 2021 provided India with a crucial victory and eventually, the series win. Ollie Pope defended the ball as it ballooned to the short-leg fielder. Ben Foakes got a big fat edge as Ashwin ended with 3/47 in 19.5 overs.
In the second innings, Ashwin showed his smartness. He delivered a big turning off-break to Zak Crawley and bowled a non-turner on the next delivery. Crawley got an outside edge to that second ball to the slip region. Joe Root was thumped on the pads, as Ashwin ended with 5/47 in the second innings. India scripted victory by an innings and 25 runs.
Ashwin will feature in his 100th Test when India will take on England in the fifth and final Test of the ongoing series at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamshala.
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