Roseau: Ravichandran Ashwin, India’s star spinner achieved a remarkable milestone on the first day of the Test match against the West Indies, becoming the third Indian bowler to claim more than 700 wickets in international cricket. Ashwin’s outstanding performance wreaked havoc on the West Indian batting lineup as he picked up a five-wicket haul, further cementing his status as one of the finest spinners in the game, according to ESPNcricinfo.
Ashwin’s inclusion in this illustrious club places him alongside other legendary Indian spinners. Anil Kumble, the former Indian head coach, sits at the top of the chart as the leading wicket-taker for the country, with an astonishing 956 international wickets. Following closely behind Kumble is former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh, who boasts a remarkable record of 711 wickets in international cricket.
With a two-match Test series against the West Indies ahead, Ashwin has the opportunity to surpass Harbhajan Singh’s record. Ashwin’s five-wicket haul on the first day of the match marked his third such achievement against the West Indies, according to the International Cricket Council.
During the match, Ashwin claimed his 700th wicket by dismissing Alzarri Joseph. Joseph, in his eagerness to clear the boundary, failed to read Ashwin’s carom ball, resulting in a thick edge that was comfortably taken by Jaydev Unadkat. Joseph departed with a score of 4 (11), giving Ashwin another reason to celebrate his incredible career milestone.
Turning the focus to the match itself, the West Indies struggled throughout the day, eventually being bowled out for a total of 150 runs in the third session. The spinners dominated most of the proceedings, with Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja combining forces to take a total of eight wickets.
In the first two sessions, the West Indies lost four wickets each, finding it challenging to combat the skill and guile of the Indian spin duo. However, the hosts will be determined to make a strong comeback with the ball in the final session of the first day.
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