Page 35 - The Indian EYE 021723

SPORTS FEBRUARY 17, 2023 | The Indian Eye 35

ASHWIN BECOMES SECOND
FASTEST BOWLER TO TAKE
450 TEST WICKETS

ndia’s star spinner Ravichandran
Ashwin on Thursday scripted his
Iname in the record books during
the ongoing first Test match of the
Border-Gavaskar Trophy against
Australia.
Ashwin became the second fast-
est bowler to take 450 Test wickets
in terms of Tests played, after Sri
Lankan legend Muttiah Muralitha-
ran who achieved this landmark in
80 matches. It took Ashwin just 89
matches to achieve the feat as com-
pared to Muralitharan’s 80 games.
The off-spinner achieved the
feat when he removed Alex Car-
ey for 36 in his 11th over as he be-
came just the second Indian bowler
to reach 450 Test wickets after Anil
Kumble. Ashwin followed up with
another wicket in the match as he
claimed Australia captain Pat Cum-
mins’s wicket for 6.
The 36-year-old also became Peter Handscomb plays a shot during the first day of the first test match in Nagpur on Thursday (ANI)
the fastest Indian bowler to bag
450 wickets in the longest format
of cricket after the legendary Anil et Academy (NCA) in Bangaluru top-six Australia batters. On the other hand, if the Australian
Kumble, who had achieved the feat throughout his rehabilitation. bowlers are able to stop Virat from
in 93 matches. “Being a left-arm spinner, if IT ALL DEPENDS ON VIRAT: scoring big, Australia will have a very
The off-spinner also claimed the you get batter out caught behind or GREG CHAPPELL good opportunity to win. In sum, Vi-
record of Second quickest in terms stumped, you always give credit to here is a lot at stake in the rat’s batting will have a major bear-
of balls bowled (23635) behind for- the ball. In Test match cricket, what- upcoming test series between ing on the series, “ said Australian
mer Australian player Glenn Mc- ever wicket you take, you are happy TIndia and Australia. For India, cricketing legend Greg Chappell on
Grath (23474). with that. I was working hard on my it is a spot in the finals of the World Backstage with Boria show.
In red-ball cricket, Ashwin just bowling when I was in Bangalore at Steve Smith has always relished
needed 161 additional balls than the NCA. I was bowling 10-12 hours Test Championship while for Austra- playing against India. The last time
lia it is a series win that has proved ex-
Australian pacer Glenn McGrath to every day and that helped me a lot. I tremely hard to come by. With India when he toured India, he led from
reach 450 wickets. was working on my rhythm because I missing the services of Rishabh Pant the front starting off with a century
knew that I have to play Test match scoring 109 in the second innings of
WAS BOWLING 10-12 HOURS and I have to bowl long spells,” Jade- and Jasprit Bumrah, many believe the first Test in Pune and helping his
EVERY: RAVINDRA JADEJA ja said in a post-match presentation. this is Australia’s best chance. team register a thumping win of 333
Can Steve Smith and Marnus La-
A fter bagging a fifer on his bowling. I was enjoying my bowl- buschagne deal with Ravichandran runs. His rivalry with Ravichandran
“Very happy with the way I was
Ashwin is going to keep everyone in-
comeback
Test
Ashwin? Can Virat Kohli yet again
match,
terested.
ing. Playing after five months, play-
all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja
Talking about the duel between
talked about his recovery process and ing Test cricket, it’s tough. I was bring out his best against Australia? Ravichandran Ashwin and Steve
All these battles within the battle
prepared for it and I was working
said he was bowling 10-12 hours ev- hard on my fitness as well as on my make the upcoming Border-Gavas- Smith, Greg Chappell said, “It is a
ery day at National Cricket Academy skills at NCA. I played a first-class kar series all the more exciting. For- very important contest. Look every
(NCA) which helped him a lot to get game (Ranji) after a long time and mer Australia captain and former batsman knows where a bowler is
back his form and rhythm. I bowled almost 42 overs. It gave India Head Coach Greg Chappell likely to bowl and what is the danger
Jadeja celebrated his comeback feels that Virat Kohli holds the key
to Test cricket after a five-month lay- me a lot of confidence to come here for India. “Virat is a very good play- area. Someone like Ashwin will look
and play a Test match. There was no
to bowl in these areas all the time. It
off with five wickets against Austra- bounce in the wicket, I was targeting er. One of the best. And the best will be on Smith and Marnus to stop
lia. His 5/47 helped India bowl out the stump-to-stump line. The odd players always want to do well in big him from doing so. They will have
the visitors for 177. Captain Rohit ball was spinning and the odd ball series. In Virat’s case if you see he to negate him from getting into his
Sharma’s unbeaten 56 has put the was going straight,” he added. always wants to win against Austra- rhythm, stop him from hitting the
hosts in a dominant position against This was the 34-year-old left- lia and has played some of his best right areas, bowl in the danger zone.
visitors at the end of Day 1 in the arm spinner’s fourth five-wicket haul innings against Australia. He consid- If they are able to push him off line,
first Test match of Border-Gavaskar against the tourists and his eleventh ers Australia as his biggest challenge they would have helped set up the
Trophy at Vidarbha Cricket Associa- five-for in Test cricket. and always pushes himself to deliver game for Australia. But again, Ash-
tion Stadium here on Thursday. Steve Smith was one of his vic- his best against Australia. He will win is a very good bowler and we
Jadeja said that in order to be have a major impact on this series. If
fit for Test match, he would bowl tims. He was struck by a ripsnorter Virat scores big runs, Australia will have seen him do well for years now
in these conditions. So, it will not be
that got into batter’s stumps. He
nonstop hours at the National Crick- find it very hard to win this series.
then went on to claim four more of easy at all.”
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