Simon Doull, former New Zealand pacer lauded India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and slammed his critics. It is not easy to be senior India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin. Despite climbing to third in the list of most wickets for Tests in India and winning his country innumerable matches, Ravichandran Ashwin continues to be criticized and comparisons continue to be made.
Reacting to constant discussions surrounding him, former New Zealand pacer Simon Doull has lashed out at his critics. The cricketer-turned-broadcaster Simon Doull, while chatting with Indian cricketer Dinesh Karthik, asked why the cricket fraternity can’t just celebrate a guy who is a great bowler. Simon Doull also spoke about why the discussion on his record at home is an unfair metric to judge him.
Simon Doull Lashes Out At Critics For Talking About Ravichandran Ashwin’s Domination At Home Conditions Only
Ravichandran Ashwin once again showcased his class as the star off-spinner broke an array of records during India’s record 372-run win over New Zealand in the second Test at the Wankhede Stadium.
“Lot of people talk about Ashwin and how dominant he is at home. But there are so many bowlers around the world who have been in that exact place. Yes, his record away isn’t as good but so is the case with so many other bowlers as well. People try and find defects in numbers that suit their narrative. Why can’t we just celebrate a guy who is a great bowler?” said Simon Doull.
“We have all had bowlers who have dominated at home. If you look at seam bowlers in New Zealand, they have dominated at home but haven’t been as good away. It is just part and parcel of the game we play,” elaborated Simon Doull.
Meanwhile, Ravichandran Ashwin continues to make merry in the ongoing series. On Day 3, he had picked up three wickets to help India restrict the Kiwis to 140/5 at stumps after setting them a mammoth target of 540.
Ravichandran Ashwin removed Henry Nicholls to bowl out New Zealand for 167 in their 2nd innings and finished with 4/34 as India wrapped up a series win on the 4th day. With Henry Nicholls’s dismissal, Ravichandran Ashwin became only the second Indian bowler to take 300 Test wickets in home conditions, after Anil Kumble. He also became the second-fastest bowler after Sri Lanka legend Muttiah Muralitharan to take 300 Test wickets at home.
Ravichandran Ashwin Took 50 Wickets Or More Most Times 4 Going Past Harbhajan Singh And Anil Kumble’s Records
With his second wicket of the innings where he dismissed Will Young on 20, Ravichandran Ashwin reached a historic Indian milestone. The off-spinner went past stalwarts Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh in taking 50 wickets in a calendar year for the most number of times (4).
Ravichandran Ashwin took 62 wickets in 2015, 72 wickets in 2016, and 56 wickets in 2016. Both, Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble took 50+ wickets in three different years each. Ravichandran Ashwin has taken 52 wickets so far.
It is the fourth calendar year where Ravichandran Ashwin has bagged 50-plus Test wickets after 2015, 2016, and 2017. Only Shane Warne (eight), Muttiah Muralitharan (six), and Glenn McGrath (five) had 50-plus Test wickets in more calendar years than Ravichandran Ashwin, who now has the most wickets-66 by a bowler in Test matches played between India and New Zealand.
Most instances by Indian bowlers picking 50+ wickets in a calendar year:
Ravichandran Ashwin (4) – 2015, 2016, 2017, 2021
Harbhajan Singh (3) – 2001, 2002, 2008
Anil Kumble (3) – 1999, 2004, 2006
Kapil Dev (2) – 1979, 1983