Team India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has become the talk of the town but this time not for his great performance. This time Ashwin is news for not getting picked in Indian Test playing XI in back-to-back two Test games. Meanwhile, Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra feels that India will definitely miss Ashwin in Lord’s Test.
Virat Kohli clearly mentioned that they will follow the template of 4 pacers and 1 spinner in the English conditions. However, the spot 1 spinner in the team was occupied by Ravindra Jadeja and not Ravichandran Ashwin. The main reason behind this is the batting skills of Jadeja. Notably in the first Test against England at Nottingham, Indian picked Shardul Thakur to replace Ravichandran Ashwin.
However, ahead of Lord’s Test Thakur got injured and fans thought Ashwin will get into playing XI but this didn’t happen. India picked Ishant Sharma instead. Meanwhile, Aakash Chopra talked about the absence of Ashwin in the latest YouTube video.
Aakash Chopra mentioned that India’s tail which consisted of Ishant, Bumrah, Shami, and Siraj was too long and no pacer was good with the bat. Aakash Chopra stated:
“Let’s be fair, let’s be honest, the tail was too long. Shami, Siraj, Bumrah, Ishant – I mean you don’t expect a lot of runs. So it has come back to bite you because none of the four fast bowlers you played bat.”
Most 5- fors in Test cricket among active players:
31 – James Anderson*
30 – Ravichandran AshwinJimmy Anderson creates yet another record!#ENGvsIND
— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) August 13, 2021
“You need a spin on the fourth and fifth day, it is almost certain” – Aakash Chopra
Cricketer-turned-commentator further discussed that the pitch was getting slower and there was no Ashwin in the team. Notably, the 34-year-old spinner would have caused a lot of trouble for English batsmen on a slow pitch. Aakash Chopra stated:
“You have not played Ravichandran Ashwin and this pitch is getting slower. The edges are also not carrying and that’s another thing that is going to be a regular feature of this Test match that the pitch is getting slower and slightly lower. You need a spin on the fourth and fifth day, it is almost certain.”
Meanwhile, When day 2 of Lord’s Test ended England was at 119/3. England was trailing by 245 runs with Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow on the crease.
England finish the day with a score of 119-3.@root66 unbeaten at close on 48*.#LoveLords | #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/9qiIBZBaR2
— Lord's Cricket Ground (@HomeOfCricket) August 13, 2021