The India vs. England five-match Test series was a highly anticipated one and now it is turning out to be a thrilling one. India gave a decent start but was fought back by some brilliant performances. On day 3, Ravichandran Ashwin registered his 35th Test five-wicket haul. After the match, he revealed how he got the chance to bowl with a new ball.
Ashwin with the New Ball:
In a surprising twist during the ongoing Test series against England, veteran Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin found himself in an unusual position on Day 3 of the Ranchi Test. For the first time in the series, Ashwin was allowed to bowl with the new ball in the visitors’ second innings.
This strategic move proved to be a stroke of genius as Ashwin immediately made an impact. With his masterful control and subtle variations, Ashwin claimed the wickets of Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope on consecutive deliveries. Utilizing the extra bounce generated by the new ball, Ashwin deceived Duckett, who was caught at short leg, before sending Pope packing with a plumb LBW dismissal.
Following his remarkable performance with the new ball, Ashwin shared his insights during an interview with the host broadcaster after the conclusion of play on Day 3. In his candid discussion, Ashwin shed light on how he approached the unique opportunity to bowl with the new ball and the tactics he employed to outsmart the English batsmen.
Ashwin said, “I have always enjoyed bowling with the new ball and today was one of those days where Rohit just said in the huddle, ‘You both (Ashwin) are starting. Who wants to start?’ I put my hand up and said I will start the over from this side. The new ball has some sort of attachment. I love bowling with the speed (off the surface).”
The Spinner on ‘Knee Issue’:
Ravichandran Ashwin‘s stellar performance, securing figures of 5/51, not only marked a significant milestone but also tied him with Anil Kumble as the Indian with the most Test five-wicket hauls. This achievement places him in elite company, standing only behind legends Muttiah Muralitharan, Shane Warne, and Richard Hadlee. The spinner disclosed that a knee issue prompted this deviation from his usual strategy.
He said, “Somehow when I come to the eastern part of the country, I find there’s not enough bite off the surface. The bounce is almost shin height. So I had to go for the sidespin and had to hammer the ball on the pitch for a long part of the first spell. From the other end, I found there was a bit of grip with the older ball.”
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