Ash exclusion again a mystery
New Delhi, Sept. 2: A couple of days back, Ravichandran Ashwin posted pictures on social media in which he was seen doing shadow batting. In one, he was playing the cover drive and in the other, he could be seen practising leaving the deliveries.
Nothing was out of place only that he was practising left-handed and the accompanying tweet read “The desire to ignite something different everyday never burns out.”
It was perhaps his way of telling the world that may be “left” would have been the “right choice”.
On Thursday, Indian skipper Virat Kohli once again announced at the toss that India’s fourth highest wicket-taker in Test cricket would not be among the five best bowlers who would be playing the Oval Test against England.
Ravindra Jadeja, with two wickets from last three Tests, was persisted with for his left-handed willow wielding.
“It’s something that we thought is a good matchup for Jadeja as well, because mostly all our seamers bowl over the wicket. It’s a nice little spot for the left-handers as well.
“I think according to the match-ups, it fits perfectly for our team — plus the balance he is giving us with the bat as well currently,” explained Kohli.
But were observers of the game convinced?
“The non selection of
ashwinravi99 has to be greatest NON selection we have ever witnessed across 4 Tests in the UK !!!
413 Test wickets & 5 Test
100s !!!! Madness,” former England captain Michael Vaughan was aghast on twitter.
One can discount Vaughan, whose comments on Indian cricket can be way off the mark, but even the normally reticent and elegant Mark Waugh was sharp.
“Makes you wonder if the Indian think tank have any clue,” ‘Junior’ replied on Vaughan’s comments section.
IS BEING EXPRESSIVE
COSTING ASHWIN?
Ashwin is an expressive man and is very aware about the words he picks and chooses while airing his views on any particular subject.
But there are murmurs about a few things.
Did Ashwin’s ‘Kutty Story’ (Small story) on his popular Tamil YouTube channel, where he always gives some cricketing nuggets and anecdotes of touring party, not go down well with certain sections?
The BCCI doesn’t like its players doing a lot of interactions when on tour. He is an eloquent man and so is his skipper, who also likes conformists in his set-up. One can only hope that it’s not the case of contrarian views clashing.