There is some enigma in the way in which R. Ashwin goes about his business. His numbers in Test cricket are enough to exhibit what sort of a colossal match winner he has been for the Indian side over the years. Apart from taking wickets at a rapid rate and getting himself to the most number of wickets after 50 Tests, with the bat as well, Ashwin has been priceless for India.
During the second day’s play at Colombo, the Tamil Nadu offie once again reiterated his all round skills, as his breezy half-century set the tone for India. Once overnight batsmen Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane were sent back, Ashwin along with wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha forged decent stand to keep the Sri Lankan bowlers at bay.
Soon, Ashwin raked up yet another half-century and while getting there, all-rounder also etched himself in history. As he got to his fifty, Ashwin also brought up his 2000 Test career runs and entered an elite list of all rounders to have the ‘double’ of 2000 Test runs and 250 wickets.
The most exciting aspect, however, was that Ashwin entered the elite list in the least number of games, and was the quickest entrant in terms of matches to be a part of the all-rounder’s ‘double’.
The yesteryear all round legends such as Ian Botham, Imran Khan and Richard Hadlee constitute the list of the all-rounder’s double of 250 wickets and 2000 runs. Ashwin, however, entered the club a little quicker than the rest of the members and below, is the statistical dissection of the platinum club of all rounders.
All rounder’s to get to 250 Test wickets and 2000 Test runs:
- R. Ashwin – 51 matches
- Richard Hadlee – 54 matches
- Imran Khan, Ian Botham – 55 matches