Forget past, Ashwin is ready to wreak havoc
SEVEN wickets for 369 runs is the sum haul of Indian spinning guru Ravi Ashwin’s last two games on Australian soil, both at the SCG which was once a tweaker’s paradise.
Debate continues over whether the Australian batting line-up is overstocked with left-handers, which would play to Ashwin’s strengths, and his overall record suggests they should be wary.
Ashwin has 336 wickets in his 64 Test matches, and the 32-year-old was the fastest to 300 scalps, evidence of his wizardry with the ball.
But 234 of his wickets have been taken in India, and 277, or 82 per cent, in Asia.
Ashwin’s 19 Tests away from the subcontinent have yielded 59 wickets, and only 21 in Australia in six Test matches over two tours, at an average of 54.71.
But Ashwin, who ditched a day off in Adelaide yesterday for extra work in the nets, declared his last effort in Australia, a 12-wicket series in three Tests in 2014/15, was a “turning point” in his career.
“Last time I was here I had a very good series … I’d like duplicate what I did,” he said after taking 2/122 against a Cricket Australia XI last week which included only five players with first class experience.
His teammate Cheteshwar Pujara says the current version of Ashwin is a different bowler than the one who last toured.
The off-spinner is coming off a solid 2018, too, with 32 wickets in nine Tests. But once again, 14 came in three Tests at home, and 18 in six abroad.
Ashwin said he would continue to bowl to his strengths, the strengths that have netted him those 336 Test wickets.
But he also conceded he had “learned a few things on the way”.
Pujara hinted that, aware of his poor record in Australia, Ashwin had made just the right amount of changes to turn things around and be as dominant here as he has been at home.
“If you see his recent bowling, I think he has made a lot of changes,” Pujara said.
“I can’t describe what it is, not in front of the media. But he has made some adjustments which has helped him.
“So I think when he’s playing in Australia, he knows what he has to do.
“He has also played a series in 2015 (here) so he’s very confident now. And whatever adjustments he had to make, he has already done it.”
IF YOU SEE HIS RECENT BOWLING, I THINK HE HAS MADE A LOT OF CHANGES,. I CAN’T DESCRIBE WHAT IT IS, NOT IN FRONT OF THE MEDIA. BUT HE HAS MADE SOME ADJUSTMENTS WHICH HAS HELPED HIM. SO I THINK WHEN HE’S PLAYING IN AUSTRALIA, HE KNOWS WHAT HE HAS TO DO. RAVI ASHWIN’S TEAMMATE, CHETESHWAR PUJARA