India’s all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja wants his spin partner Ravichandran Ashwin to complete the milestone of 500 Test wickets in the ongoing Hyderabad Test against England. Ashwin scalped three wickets in the first innings on Thursday and he is now seven wickets away from reaching the mountain of 500 scalps.
The veteran off-spinner will become the second Indian spinner after legendary Anil Kumble to get to the landmark. Ashwin has been a force in home conditions and he has breathed down the neck of the opposition batters with his variations and guile.
Meanwhile, England got off to a quick start with Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett hitting the ground running against the Indian pace duo of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj despite swing being on offer.
But Ashwin was able to break the shackles as he plumbed Duckett in front of the wickets. Furthermore, Ashwin had Crawley caught at mid-off when Mohammed Siraj took a sharp low catch. England lost three wickets for only five runs in an interval of 21 balls to slip from 55-0 to 60-3.
The veteran spinner also accounted for Mark Wood in the end. Ashwin returned with impressive figures of 3-68 and played a key role in skittling out England for 246 after Ben Stokes won the toss and decided to bat first.
“It will be a big achievement if Ashwin completes 500 Test wickets and I hope he gets it in this match. I am left with 25 wickets for 300 and it might take the whole series, but I wish Ashwin completes his 500 in this game itself and continues taking wickets for India,” Jadeja told JioCinema as per news agency PTI
Meanwhile, Jadeja and Ashwin have bagged 506 wickets while playing together at an average of 21. Jadeja added he enjoys bowling with Ashwin and bowl in tandem with the veteran spinner.
“I really enjoy bowling with Ashwin, it is really helpful with two spinners bowling in tandem. We share a lot of messages around field setting, line and length and we are happy to contribute to India’s win. We really enjoy the competition,” the 35-year-old said.
At the end of opening day’s play, India were 119-1, in arrears to England’s first innings score by 127 runs.
