The second innings of the just-concluded Test between India and Australia once again showed Ravichandran Ashwin is still not comfortable bowling on overseas pitches. The off-spinner started the proceedings strongly in Adelaide – a venue where he was dropped on the last tour.
India needed a solid start with the ball after managing a modest 250 and the onus was on Ashwin to lead the attack. Well, India’s most experienced bowler proved his worth by rocking Australia’s top-order. He accounted for debutant Marcus Harris, Usman Khawaja and Shaun Marsh to leave Australia reeling at 87 for 4.
Even in the second innings, he dismissed Aaron Finch and Usman Khawaja to put India in the driver’s seat.
However, it was his struggles on the final day that might give the team-management a big headache. Just a day ago, Australia spin spearhead Nathan Lyon had rocked India by picking up six wickets. However, Ashwin rarely looked threatening on the deteriorating final day pitch. He toiled hard for 33 overs before picking up the last Australian wicket Josh Hazlewood to guide India to a 31-run win. His struggles made it crystal clear that he is still not comfortable bowling on overseas pitches. Prior to that Ashwin had underperformed in the warm-up game. He had managed to pick up jus two wickets while conceding 122 runs against Cricket Australia XI.
Not very long ago, Ashwin had coped severe criticism for his performance in the Southampton Test against England. He had managed just three wickets in 51.5 overs across England’s two innings while England offspinner Moeen Ali bagged nine wickets.
Now given that India won the Adelaide Test, the team-management might decide against changing the team combination. However, the temptation to take an unassailable lead in the series might prompt the team-management to include Kuldeep Yadav in the team. The left–arm spinner has caused problems aplenty for the batsmen with his bags full of tricks. He last played an overseas Test during the England series when he was released from the team after his poor outing in Lord’s. But it should be noted that the pitch was perfectly suited for seam-bowling and no other spinner had managed to leave any mark. Kuldeep also has a good track record in Tests, having picked up 19 wickets in 5 games.
So while only time will tell the team-management’s decision, one can say that it is high time India try out Kuldeep ahead of Ashwin in overseas Tests.