The Indian cricketer and Spinner Ravichandran Ashwin made history by being the first cricketer to score over fifty runs twice or more times along with 30 or more five-wicket hauls in test matches. Thus, he is the first-ever individual to achieve such a milestone in Test cricket’s 147-year history.
On Thursday during the first test match against Bangladesh played at his home ground (Chennai), Ashwin set another remarkable record as an all rounder. When India was struggling at 144/6 position, Ashwin made a good counter attack along with Ravindra Jaddu, settling for a score of 102 not out off just 112 balls that included 10 fours and 2 sixes. He had a strike rate of 91.07 whilst batting for his runs.
With 36 five-wicket hauls, which is the third most by any Test bowler, Ashwin has also recorded six centuries and fourteen half-centuries in this format. He is the only player to have achieved a double of 20 or more fifties if he has 30 five-wicket hauls in Tests.
In Test matches played from position eight or lower Ashwin has scored four centuries while Daniel Vettori of New Zealand has come up with all the five tons he has from that position.
At MA Chidambram Stadium, where he has played his entire career, this 38-year-old all-rounder is known for his remarkable records. In five Tests and seven innings Ashwin averaged 331 runs at 55.16 including two centuries and one half-century. Moreover, his bowling record shows that 30 wickets taken at an average of 23.60 include 7/103 as best figures on the venue.
Test cricket has witnessed few all-rounders like Ashwin who have registered multiple five fers and centuries at a particular ground. Among them are Garfield Sobers (West Indies), Kapil Dev (India), Chris Cairns (New Zealand) as well as Ian Botham (England).
Bangladesh captain won the toss and opted to bowl first in the match. The Indian top order crumbled under pressure leaving them at 34 for 3 runs. Yashasvi Jaiswal opened up for India with an aggressive innings of 56 runs off 118 deliveries hitting nine boundaries; this spurred his team’s comeback alongside Rishabh Pant who came in with a score of 39 runs from 52 balls containing six fours during their fourth partnership which lasted for 62 runs. At one stage, when it seemed like India were going to be reduced to 144 for six Ashwin joined hands with Jadeja who scored 86 not out from 117 balls including ten fours and two sixes contributing also to their 195 run partnership that concluded day’s play at a score of 339 for six wickets intact.
Bangladeshi topmost bowler Hasan Mahmud made his mark with figures of 4 wickets for 58 runs while on the other hand, he ran havoc on the Indian opening batsmen by getting rid of team captain Rohit Sharma (6), Shubman Gill (0) and even Virat Kohli himself who had only managed to score 6 runs.
