India’s premier off spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin created history in the third test match between India vs England. The match, a day night game is being played in Ahmedabad.
Ashwin dismissed Jofra Archer to become the quickest from India and second quickest overall to reach 400 wickets! He did this in just his 77th test.
Before Ashwin, it was the former great leg spinner Anil Kumble who had taken 85 matches to take 400 wickets and he was the fastest from India to take 400 wickets. Now Ashwin has smashed that record by taking his 400th wicket, while taking 8 fewer tests to achieve the milestone.
At international level, Muttiah Muralidharan is the fastest to reach 400 wickets in just 72 tests. The second quickest was New Zealand great Sir Richard Hadlee alongside DSouth African legend Dale Steyn. Both had taken 80 matches to take 400 wickets.
Early Career
Ashwin hails from Chennai, Tamil Nadu. He was born on 17 Sep 1986. The bowler debuted for India in June 2010 when, the team toured Zimbabwe for a small limited overs series. His test debut happened an year later, in 2011 against West Indies at Delhi. Immediately, the tall spinner made an impact and since then, hasn’t looked back.
Initially, it was said about Ashwin, that he takes wickets, only on low, slow and turning wickets. Ashwin too struggled, in his first overseas tours, that includes trips to Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and England. Like all other spinners before him, who travelled to these countries ,struggled and Ashwin was no different.
However, Ashwin gradually started showing signs of improvements overseas. His records started getting better. Batsman had troubles playing him, even when the pitch wasn’t conducive for spin bowling.
Since 2016, he has been brilliant everywhere, no matter whether India is playing at home or outside home. In the recently concluded, India vs Australia test series in Australia, Ashwin was one of star performers for India with both bat and ball. He took wickets at 28 a piece and played a match saving knock in the third test match.
Statistics –
Statistically speaking, Ashwin is the most impactful Indian bowler to have played the game. He averages 25 runs per wicket. Comparatively, both Anil Kumble and Kapil Dev took wickets at 29 while, Harbhajan Singh took wickets at 32 runs/piece. These three bowlers, are the only ones from India, to take 400 wickets prior Ashwin.
Similarly, when it comes to strike rate, Ashwin boasts a strike rate of 53. Kapil Dev has a strike rate of 64, Kumble has a 65 strike rate while Harbhajan has a strike rate of 68.
When, it comes to match winning performances in a test series for India, Ashwin already has 7 man of series awards. Virender Sehwag is the next man on the list, with 5 such performances.
Ashwin also has taken the second most 5 wicket hauls and 10 wickets in a match. He has so far taken 29 five wickets haul in an innings and 7 times he has taken 10 wickets in a match. Anil Kumble is ahead of Ashwin in this scenario with 35 fifers and 10 wickets haul 8 times in his career. However, Kumble has played 132 test matches for this while Ashwin has played just 77 matches.
As of now, Ashwin is still the quickest to reach 250,300 and 350 wickets in test matches while being the second quickest to take 200 and 400 wickets!
If Ashwin carries his form and fitness for the next 2-3 years, we might see a lot more records smashed by him.
Watch the historic moment when Ashwin completed his feat of 400!
400 test wickets for Ash anna #ashwin400 @ashwinravi99
Video – ICC pic.twitter.com/mkk6QIXCMF— vamsi lanke (@vamc_i) February 25, 2021
