Indian off-spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin is having a remarkable Test series in Australia. The series is not even at its mid-point yet, and he is breaking records of former greats. On Saturday (December 26), Ashwin, earlier known to be just an ordinary bowler in overseas conditions, broke former India legend Anil Kumble’s record.
Ashwin surpassed the leg-spinner’s tally of 7 three-wicket hauls in Australia as he took his 8th 3-for down under ending with figures of 3/35 in Australia’s first innings in Melbourne. Former spinners, Bishan Singh Bedi and Erapalli Prasanna have six 3-fers each in Australia.
The Tamil Nadu lad is on his fourth tour to Australia- starting in 2011. Bowling in 15 innings, the 34-year-old has picked 35 wickets at an average of 40- improving with every tour.
India on top after Day 1 in Melbourne; R Ashwin gets Steve Smith again
However, the visitors looked reinvigorated on the field- thankfully, the Indian fielders grabbed their catches. Jasprit Bumrah dismissed Joe Burns in the fifth over. Matthew Wade, who was looking in his aggressive mode, trying to go for a big shot fell to Ravichandran Ashwin, who was introduced as early as in the 11th over.
The offie, in his third over, got rid of Australia’s totemic batsman, Steve Smith- for the second time in two Tests. Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne stitched a 86 runs partnership before both the batsmen departed in tandem to Jasprit Bumrah and debutant Mohammed Siraj.
The scars of Adelaide came back soon to haunt the Indian fans as Mitchell Starc got Mayank Agarwal lbw in the very first over of India’s batting. However, another debutant, Shubman Gill along with the ever-reliant Cheteshwar Pujara steadied the ship as India went unscathed after Agarwal’s wicket to end the day with the score of 36/1.
