R Ashwin all set to play his 50th test match
The first test at Galle will be a special one for India's leading spin bowler Ravichandran Ashwin, as he would be playing his 50th test match. The 30-year old made his debut in 2011, and soon became the leading spinner of the country. Let us have a look at some of the memorable moments of his test career till now.
Ashwin's career in number
In 49 matches, Ashwin has picked up 275 wickets, with the best bowling figures of 13/140 in a match and 7/59 in an innings. He has 25 five-wicket hauls and 7 ten wicket hauls. He has scored 1903 runs, including four centuries.
Match winning performance on his debut
Playing his debut match against West Indies in November 2011, Ashwin picked up three wickets in the first innings, and six in the second. He won the 'Man of the Match' award and was also named 'player of the series' for picking up 22 wickets in three matches. Those were the best bowling figures for an Indian debutant since Narendra Hirwani's 16 in 1988.
First test at home
Having established himself as the lead bowler for the Indian team, Ashwin created havoc in the Australian camp as he picked up 12 wickets in the first test match at Chennai in March 2013. In the first innings, Ashwin got seven wickets, trapping most of Australia's top order. His five wickets in the second innings won the match for India.
Best bowling figures
In the third test match against New Zealand in Oct 2016, Ashwin picked up his best bowling figures in tests. His figures of 7/59 in an innings and 13/140 in the match won the series for India, as the hosts washed out the visitors 3-0. India reached the top ranking in tests, as Ashwin ended the year as number one test bowler and all-rounder.
Ashwin's batting performances
Ashwin has already established himself as a handy batsman and has played several important innings, including his memorable centuries. His partnerships with many batsmen has made him the go-to-man in difficult situations.
