Master in home soil conditions, Ravichandran Ashwin is one of the first names that is named in the India Playing XI in Test cricket. However, there is a big chance, that won’t be the case when India travel to Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. While Ashwin continues to provide a reliable option in both batting and bowling, the pitch conditions can tempt team India to use an offset strategy.
It has now become horses for courses for Ashwin. Even in the IND vs ENG Test Series, Ashwin was dropped in a match to play according to the pitch conditions. And this will be a huge concern for Team India when they travel to Australia. Known for their traditional bouncy pitches, there is no guarantee that Ashwin would feature in all 5 Test matches of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
While Ashwin’s batting is dependable, his bowling can be a disadvantage in extremely pace friendly pitches. In such a condition, India can be tempted to play even 4 pacers with Jadeja being the only lone spinner in the team. If at all the situation arises, then any other fielders can don the role of a part time spinner.
Ashwin has been a mainstay in red ball cricket in the Indian Cricket Team for quite sometime now. More importantly, Ashwin has been an utility player for India. Picking wickets at regular intervals and scoring handy runs when the opportunity arises. And this has helped him maintain his World No. 2 spot in the ICC Test all-rounders rankings, behind Jadeja.
Coming to the uneven pace and bouncy conditions in Australia, if at all an opportunity arises for India to play 2 spinners, then Axar Patel too can get his chance ahead of Ashwin. Axar’s hard hitting style along with his ability to pick wickets in pitches that doesn’t support much turn, makes him a prized asset for the team.
While Ashwin continues to remain as one of the key player for the country in red ball cricket, but his place is not guaranteed owing to the pitch and ground conditions of other pitches.
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