India’s premier spinner R Ashwin is on the cusp of few records in Test cricket, and the second encounter against England, that starts on Feb 2 in Vizag, will be a perfect opportunity for him to get to those. While just about every cricket fan in the country knows that he is four wickets about from 500 Test scalps, there are other records too.
He is only two wickets short of becoming the leading wicket-taker for India vs ENG in Tests. The current record-holder Bhagwath Chandrasekhar tops the list with 95 wickets in 23 matches, while Ashwin has 94 in 20 Tests. Other than that, he is only six wickets away from becoming first Indian, and second overall, to pick up 100 wickets in IND vs ENG Tests.
The other bowler is James Anderson, who in his lengthy career, has picked 139 wickets in 35 matches. If that is not enough, he is also in line to become the second-fastest to 500 Test wickets, and surpass Anil Kumble. The former India skipper achieved the record in 105 Tests, while Ashwin could achieve the feat in 97 Tests.
Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan holds the record currently, having achieved the feat in only 87 Tests.
