India and Australia are in London contesting the World Test Championship final. And India have not selected the man who is quite possibly the best Test cricketer on the planet: Ravichandran Ashwin
—the version of the game in which matches can take five days—is a sport of oddities. This week has seen another one. India and Australia are in south London contesting the World Test Championship final, the last in a two-year sequence of matches involving all the Test-playing countries. And India have not selected the man who is quite possibly the best Test cricketer on the planet: Ravichandran Ashwin.
This is unusual treatment of a player who is already an all-time great. Mr Ashwin has 474 Test wickets, the ninth-most of any bowler in the format’s 143-year history. He has conceded fewer runs per wicket than three of the four spin-bowlers ranked above him. And it takes him fewer balls than any of them, on average, to get a batsman out.
There is no obvious weakness in his bowling. His stock ball is an off-break, which spins from his right to left. As a tall man, Mr Ashwin has exceptional control of length—how far down the pitch the ball bounces—allowing him to draw batsmen forward or push them back at will, and he tends to vary his speed more than other off-spinners. He also muddles batsmen with two other types of delivery: an arm ball and a “sodukku” ball. The first, bowled with back-spin, goes straight on.
Allied to his action, Mr Ashwin’s other great strength is an utter devotion to cricket. Some players rely on physical gifts, such as exceptional hand-eye co-ordination, for success. Others rely more on strategy. Mr Ashwin is firmly in the latter camp. He studies cricket. Several years ago, he told an Indian journalist that before a Test series he would watch every single ball of the opposing team’s previous series , haranguing the analytics company if any coverage was missing.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Schumacher: Mercedes F1 test run will help me be even better in simMick Schumacher says his first outing in Mercedes\u2019 2023 Formula 1 car this week will help him in doing an even better job in the simulator this year.\u00a0
Read more »
Bank Of America Is Betting Big On India’s Renewable Potential | OilPrice.comIndia has announced ambitious climate targets, such as installing 500 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity, reducing the emissions intensity of its economy by 45 percent.
Read more »
NI driving and vehicle test fees could be set to rise under new proposalsA public consultation has been opened on the plans
Read more »
India attempts to revive its dwindling rubber industryDemand for rubber in India is soaring but local producers are giving up their money-losing plantations.
Read more »
Chinese-linked businesses and investors seek comeback in India\n\t\t\tKeep abreast of significant corporate, financial and political developments around the world.\n\t\t\tStay informed and spot emerging risks and opportunities with independent global reporting, expert\n\t\t\tcommentary and analysis you can trust.\n\t\t
Read more »
How to sign up for the Tekken 8 network testGetting ready for the next battle? With a Tekken 8 network test on the horizon you'll need to sign up for a chance to get access.
Read more »