India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin is back after a short break after the World Cup Final loss. Ashwin, who is nearing his 500th Test wicket is expected to feature in at least one of the Test matches against South Africa. India are playing a 2-match Test series, starting 26 December, in Centurion.
The off-spinner is particularly famous for troubling the left-handers. Ashwin said that he has been practicing against youngster Yashasvi Jaiswal, a rising star in India cricket. Ashwin detailed his plan of attack against the left-handers and said that he likes to pitch it in the stump line and keep the batters guessing if the ball will spin or not.
“Practice matches are very crucial in any visiting tour when it comes to a bowler. I decide on the lines that I bowl, I gauge my shoulder rotation, and I plan for the left-hander. I bowled my first ball to Yashashvi Jaiswal. My first intention would be to keep the ball in play on the stump line. Because there is a chance of the moisture of the pitch rubbing off on the ball, the batter won’t know if the ball is turning or coming straight to him. So there’s a chance of a catch on the short leg,” Ashwin further added.
Ashwin will be looking to continue his strong show in the red ball game. After his snub from the World Test Championship 2023 Final, Ashwin picked up 15 wickets in the 2-match Test series against West Indies. Ashwin, who has played 94 Test matches so far, is just 11 wickets away from the magical feat of 500 wickets.
