Ravichandran Ashwin equals Shane Warne with 37th Test fifer: Stats
Veteran Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has accomplished his 37th fifer in Test cricket. He accomplished the milestone in the last innings of the opening Test against Bangladesh at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. En route, he also became the eighth-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket. The top-ranked Test all-rounder also smoked a century earlier in the game. Here are further details.
Ashwin goes past Walsh
Ashwin finished with 6/88 in 21 overs as Bangladesh were folded for 234 while chasing 515. Playing his 101st Test match, Ashwin has now raced to 522 scalps at an average of 23.7. As per ESPNcricinfo, he went past West Indies legend Courtney Walsh (519) to become the eighth-highest wicket-taker in this format. He owns 29 wickets against the Tigers at 25.27 (5W: 2).
Joint-second-most Test fifers
As mentioned, this was Ashwin's 37th Test fifer as he broke the tie with New Zealand's Richard Hadlee. In terms of Test fifers, Ashwin is now only behind Sri Lanka legend Muthiah Muralidaran (67). He equaled Australia's Shane Warne (37) in this regard. With his final wicket, Ashwin also became the second Indian after Anil Kumble (953) to accomplish 750 international wickets.
Sixth Test centuries for Ashwin
Earlier in the game, Ashwin scored a brilliant 113 off 133 balls with the help of 11 fours and 2 sixes. He has now raced to 3,422 Test runs at 26.94 as his tally includes six centuries and 14 fifties. This was his second 50-plus score against the Tigers as he has now raced to 270 wickets against them at 54.
Summary of the 1st Test
India scored 376 in their 1st innings, riding on a century from Ashwin and a score of 86 from Ravindra Jadeja. In response, Jasprit Bumrah's four-fer saw Bangladesh fold for 149. India declared their second innings at 287/4 thanks to centurions Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant. Chasing a mammoth 515, Bangladesh fought well but eventually fell way short of the target.
Do you know?
This was the fourth occasion of Ashwin recording a century and a five-wicket haul in the same Test. Only England's Ian Botham has accomplished this feat more times. No other all-rounder has achieved this double even thrce. As per Cricbuzz, Ashwin now own 99 Test wickets in the fourth innings, the most for any Indian as he went past Kumble (94).
