Ravichandran Ashwin. Photo : Collected
Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin became the ninth man in the history of test cricket, and the second Indian to reach the landmark of taking 500 Test wickets. He got three wickets on the second day in Rajkot Test and with the wicket of England's Zak Crawley he achieved the mark at only 98th test only. He is also the second-fastest test bowler to achive it.
When England's openers had responded to India's first-innings score of 445 with a rapid 89-run in only 13 overs. He broke the vital partnership and gave the breakthrough by taking Crawley's wicket with a top-edging at the short fine leg,
Ashwin, after his doubt still now playing very vital role especially in the home through the last decade. Till today, He has total 34 five-wicket hauls and 8 matches of 10 or more so far. Only Anil Kumble, who has 619 test wickets is ahead of Ashwin among Indians. He is also only the third offspinner to the mark, alongside Muthiah Muralidaran and Nathan Lyon.
His 500th wicket was the 10th in the series against England with an average of 34 per wicket, having 50 strike rate. His bowling figures are of 3 for 68 and 3 for 126 in the first Test in Hyderabad, and 0 for 61 and 3 for 72 in the second in Visakhapatnam.
Messenger/Sumon
