Senior India off-spinner R Ashwin has named his top three best spells of his Test career as he stands on the verge of 100 Test matches. The upcoming Dharamsala Test against England will be the 100th Test of Ashwin’s career; he will become only the 14th Indian player to feature in 100 Test matches.
R Ashwin has snared 507 Test wickets in 99 Tests at an average of 23. He has completed 35 five-wicket hauls in Test cricket, which is the fourth most behind only Muthiah Muralidaran, Shane Warne, and Richard Hadlee.
However, R Ashwin’s top three spells don’t include any five-wicket hauls. Two of them are in England and one is in Bangalore.
I got Cook, Root and Jennings in Birmingham in 2018: R Ashwin
When asked about the finest spells in his Test career so far, R Ashwin picked three spells – 3/59 in Edgbaston in 2018, 4/113 in Centurion in 2018, and 2/84 in 49 overs against Australia in Bangalore in 2017.
In Dharamsala on Tuesday, R Ashwin said, “When you finish, it is Test wins that stand really tall. But having given it a lot of thought, one of the finest spells I have bowled has to be the one in Birmingham in 2018. I got three wickets on the morning of day three. I got Cook, Root and Jennings. I got seven wickets in the game. I felt like I had almost bowled India to victory in the game, but it didn’t happen. That has to be one of the finest spells I have bowled.”
“A Test in Bangalore where I bowled a spell on day-two morning not for many rewards. And day one at Centurion in 2018 again against South Africa. I got a four-for. It could have been six or seven but it didn’t happen. That was a good spell. Those are three spells that will stand out,” he added.
His spell of 49-13-84-2 in Bangalore against Australia was of great importance after India had been bowled out for 189. He took a six-wicket haul later in Australia’s second innings to win a memorable Test for India.
India currently lead the Test series against England by 3-1. The bowling is set to gain a boost as Jasprit Bumrah will return after a break from the fourth Test.
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