Last Updated on 4 years by Charbel Coorey
Why India should pick Ashwin for 4th Test | Explained: Why India should pick Ashwin for the 4th Test at The Oval
India’s loss at Headingley was more about the failure of the batting group in the first innings but it cannot hide the poor returns of the bowlers. The defeat at Leeds once again has ignited the debate of Ravichandran Ashwin’s need in the playing XI.
It came as a surprising move in Nottingham when captain Virat Kohli announced that India will be playing with four seam bowlers and Ravindra Jadeja as the lone spinner. Post the Nottingham Test, Virat went on to say that India will be going with the template of playing four seamers and one spinner. Ravindra Jadeja’s red hot form with the bat and his superiority as a batsman gave him an edge over Ashwin. India’s bowling group did well in the first two Tests but the result of the third Test may force the management to go with their tried and tested method of playing two spinners and three quicks.
Without a shadow of a doubt, the world’s number 2 Test bowler Ravichandran Ashwin is the best spinner in the red-ball format at the moment. He has been in form of his life in the previous two series; in Australia, where he dismissed Steve Smith thrice, and then at home against England, where he snapped 32 wickets and notched up a hundred on a difficult batting track in Chennai.
However, the management remains skeptical of his bowling in English conditions and against right-handed batters, while there is no doubt that Jadeja is a better batsman than Ashwin. Fair to say that Ashwin looked the most threatening Indian bowler in the WTC Final. He underlined his form again ahead of the five-Test series with a superb match-turning spell of 6/27 as Surrey bundled out Somerset for 69 in their second innings in an English County Championship game.
Ashwin’s recent success in Test cricket would get him in any playing XI.
Ashwin – too good a player to miss out
It’s quite evident that India’s not getting what they need from Jadeja, the bowler. To cover that up, Ashwin’s inclusion is a must in the playing XI. The offie will give Virat another attacking option who will challenge both edges of the English batsman. The Tamil Nadu spinner with his bag of tricks can prove to be a serious threat for the home side.
Traditionally The Oval wicket has been a flat one. With the pitch expected to offer less for the bowlers, Ashwin can be the sole difference between both sides. Another reason to play Ashwin in the fourth Test is the stellar record he has against England. Ravi Ashwin is a very clever operator and knows exactly how to plan out a batsman irrespective of the conditions. Against left-handers, he’s probably one the best bowlers ever to play the game and in case if The Oval wicket offers a bit of bounce then Ashwin can place a leg slip to challenge the right handers’ inside edge.
The argument in Jadeja’s favour is that he is a better batsman than Ashwin. If you are going in with six batsmen, with Pant at No. 6, then you need Jadeja at No. 7. But Ashwin is no mug with the bat. Ashwin is a fighter and he has shown time and time again that he can give useful runs with the bat. The argument for Ashwin in England on this tour is not necessarily that he should replace Jadeja; it could just as well be that he should play alongside him as Jadeja provides that extra batting cushion which the visiting team often needs in alien conditions. This would mean a bowling attack made up of two spinners and three seam bowlers.
Conclusion
For Kohli, the choice is between playing the world’s best red ball spinner and the fourth seam bowling option. So, one plausible case for Ashwin consists of showing that he is likely to be more valuable to the side than India’s fourth seamer. If the Indian team emphasises on the current form then there’s no reason why Ashwin shouldn’t be a part of the playing XI in the fourth Test at the Oval.
Written by Vaibhav Tripathi. Follow Vaibhav on Twitter today.
