England vs India: I Was Surprised Ravichandran Ashwin Didn't Get Any Wickets - Harbhajan Singh
Published - 02 Sep 2018, 02:22 AM | Updated - 22 Aug 2024, 11:54 PM
The Team India bowlers have made an impressive comeback in the ongoing Test series against England. The hosts posted 260 for eight at the stumps of day three in Southampton. While the visiting Pacers have bagged wickets to derail England’s innings, ace off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin found it hard to trouble the batters. It further took Harbhajan Singh by surprise.
Ashwin, the lone Indian spinner in the game, has gone wicketless so far. In the first innings, the Tamil Nadu-born cricketer bagged two wickets. He picked up the wickets of Moeen Ali and in-form Sam Curran. But he is currently toiling hard without any luck as England batters have milked him well so far.
Harbhajan on Ashwin’s drought:
Veteran Indian spinner Harbhajan is astonished by Ashwin’s lack of impact on a pitch where Ali has bagged a five-for. Ali, the all-rounder, floored the Indian batters and opened the floodgates.
The cracks are open, and the surface is encouraging turn. Ashwin did trouble Joe Root a couple of times but didn’t so good enough to bag a wicket.
While speaking to Sky Sports at Ageas Bowl, Harbhajan said that the advantage is with India at the moment.
“That was a big wicket just before lunch – and I’d say the session belongs to India as a result,” Harbhajan said.
Moreover, he also suggested Ashwin bowl much in the rough areas while also feeling that he will be more dangerous in the second session.
The experienced spinner Harbhajan Singh also said that Ravichandran Ashwin could be more successful if he bowls outside the off-stump- in the cracks in the ongoing match between England and visiting side India.
“I was surprised Ashwin didn’t get any wickets. But he didn’t look to try and hit that rough that we were talking about in the morning; if you do hit that rough, you’ll probably make more chances. His line has been straighter, much as it was in Nottingham. If he bowled outside off-stump, where the rough is, I think he’ll be far more dangerous,” Harbhajan further said.
