#IndiaInEngland: Ashwin a thorn for left-handed batsmen
India's senior off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was in business in the first innings of the Edgbaston Test against England after ending up with 4/60. The right-arm spinner picked up wickets at pivotal times of the game. He accounted for three left-handed batsmen as India wrapped up England for 287. Over the years, Ashwin has been extremely effective against left-handers. Here we decode the phenomenon.
Ashwin gets Cook for 8th time in Tests
Ashwin was introduced in the seventh over, itself, by Kohli and the calculated risk paid off. In the 9th over, the off-spinner picked the wicket of veteran southpaw Alastair Cook. After letting him drive the first two balls, Ashwin pitched the ball on the middle-stump and beat his bat to hit the stumps. This was the 8th time when Ashwin dismissed Cook in Tests.
Ashwin's domination against left-handers a treat
When one looks at statistics of Ashwin, he has dismissed David Warner an emphatic 9 times in 14 innings. Cook's dismissal against him was the Englishman's 8th in 12 innings. Another Aussie Cowan has fallen to Ashwin 7 times in 7 innings. This shows the domination, Ashwin has enjoyed over lefties. He even accounted for Ben Stokes and Stuart Broad's wickets on Day 1.
Ashwin's wickets in 3rd session a bonus
Kohli changed the momentum of the game by getting Joe Root run-out and from there on Ashwin took over. He got Jos Buttler playing across the straight ball and was trapped LBW. Stokes was next and he offered a simple return catch off a ball that kept its line. Broad was adjudged LBW next, with the ball shaping in to strike his pads.
Ashwin to play a prominent role
Ashwin bowled 25+ overs on a pitch that was supposed to assist pacers more. He is India's leader of the pack and could be in line to play a prominent role in the remaining of the Test series.
