As India gear’s up for their first test series in 2024 at home soil versus the Bazball infused England team from 25th January 2024 in conquest to the top spot in the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 table , all eyes would be on experienced and veteran offspinner of India Ravichandran Ashwin. Indian ace off spinner on home pitches Ravichandran Ashwin has an impeccable record versus England at home and would love to continue the same in the upcoming series.
Ravichandran Ashwin who now stands on 490 wickets is set to become second Indian spinner after legendary Anil Kumble (619 wickets) to become the second Indian spinner who will surpass 500 wickets mark in the upcoming test series.
Ravichandran Ashwin as an effective All rounder
Meanwhile a potential all rounder at number 8, Ashwin who started his first class and school age cricket as an opening batter for his home team TamilNadu, is no geek with the bat having an average of 23.69 in tests with a strike rate of 51.48 inclusive of 5 test centuries out of which one came in the last series versus the Englishmen at home in Chennai where he and the other century man Rohit Sharma on a sluggish Chennai wicket helped India won a match.
With the ball on Indian pitches versus any opposition over a decade now Ashwin has been a threat since his test debut in 2011 having taken over the mantle of Indian spin legacy from the likes of Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh successfully. His bowling figures at home stands an impressive at 337 wickets from 55 matches only with a best of 7 for 59 inclusive of 26 five wickets haul and 6 ten wickets hauls in both innings of a test match.
Ashwin has an impeccable record versus the Englishmen at home and away and in this series requires just eight more wickets to become India’s leading wicket taker versus England in tests. In this series where records would galore for Ravichandran Ashwin, he could be the only second bowler to complete 100 wickets in India -England tests after James Anderson(139 wickets).
Also Ashwin requires only 13 wickets to complete 350 test wickets at home. In the process Ashwin can also become second Indian bowler after Anil Kumble (895) to deliver 600 maiden overs in Tests in India . With so many records in sight it is evident that Ravichandran Ashwin will be an impending threat on the English batters prominently the left handers in the team. England opener and left hander batter himself Ben Duckett is aware of Ashwin’s dominance against the left handers and has expressed his views on the same.
Ravichandran Ashwin is a world class bowler- Ben Duckett
England opener Ben Duckett realizes he is up for a tough challenge against veteran Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin when the two face each other during the five-match Test series, which begins on January 25.Duckett was a part of the England squad that traveled to India in 2016 and were thumped 4-0. Ashwin’s record against left-handers has been sensational and Duckett knows the off-spinner could get the better of him again.
Speaking to Sky Sports, here’s what Ben Duckett had to say about Ravichandran Ashwin:
“I wasn’t the last left-hander to struggle out there in those conditions against Ashwin. He’s so good everywhere. I’m sure he’s going to get me out again, he’s a world-class bowler.”
Ashwin dismissed Duckett thrice already on his previous Test tour to India.
Ben Duckett on his experience of playing in India
Ben Duckett has played a crucial role for England at the top of the order in their ‘Bazball’ revolution and understands that playing the aggressive brand of cricket will not be easy on rank turners.
However, the southpaw feels his initial experience of playing in India will help him adapt quickly. On this, Duckett stated:
“I’ve played a lot of cricket since then and maturity is a big one for me in those years. The biggest thing this time around is that whatever India throw at me, it’s not going to be a shock. I’ve played on those kinds of pitches. I know full well what to expect when I get out there.”
He added:
“I would back myself now on a good pitch or a flatter pitch to not feel like I have to play aggressive shots or sweep every ball. If those pitches are spinning and with the way this team have played over the last 18 months, I know what my strengths are and I’m certainly not going to die wondering.”
Having tasted recent success with the Bazball approach in neighboring nation Pakistan having whitewashed them in a three match test series 3-0, England under the management led by New Zealander swashbuckler Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes aims to continue the same on hostile spin friendly pitches in India .
But the touring side are also aware about the impeding threat in the form of Ravichandran Ashwin and company who with all their might will continue to maintain India’s test dominance at home since 2012 when they last lost a test series at home versus the then England side and since has been unbeatable in test series in India.