Mumbai: Ravichandran Ashwin emerged as a pivotal figure in India’s triumphant victory over England in the recently concluded five-match Test series. With an outstanding performance, Ashwin claimed 26 wickets, leading the series’ wicket-takers, and achieved the remarkable milestone of becoming the fastest Indian to reach 500 Test wickets, all while marking his 100th Test appearance.
While India celebrated their resounding win, England’s Bazball strategy faced intense scrutiny. Prior to their tour of India, England had maintained an unbeaten streak in the Bazball era, largely on batting-friendly home turfs. However, the series against India posed a formidable challenge, one that England ultimately succumbed to.
Amidst debates over the viability of Bazball on demanding pitches, Ashwin voiced his support for the method, asserting its potential success with the right approach.
“So many people have commented that they lost 1-4, but in my opinion, we really came under immense pressure in the series. If the team manages to get the right balance, it is bound for success,” remarked Ashwin on his YouTube channel, reflecting on his team’s performance and the method’s adaptability.
Pivotal Moment of Dharamsala Test
Ashwin singled out Zak Crawley’s dismissal during the Dharamsala Test as a pivotal moment, shedding light on a fundamental flaw in Bazball. He emphasized that Test cricket demands a nuanced approach and cannot be played with the same aggression as limited-overs formats.
“Kuldeep’s Zak Crawley dismissal was a beauty. He had hit a boundary between covers and mid off just on over back. So he was in good flow. The gap still existed as bait for him. He tried again, got cramped and the ball passed between his gates. He had already hit four-five boundaries. It’s not that we bowled fuller suddenly. When such high-risk shot is played, he loses his wicket. Crawley’s scores in 60s and 70s are pearls that missed becoming a hundred because of his high-risk cricket.” explained Ashwin, drawing parallels between driving styles in India and England.
Missed Opportunities
Reflecting on England’s missed opportunities in the series, Ashwin acknowledged their potential for success but underscored the importance of learning from defeat.
“In India you cannot always drive in the fourth gear. We keep changing gears. We always keep one foot on the brake. This concept is alien to them! Crawley always gets momentum, but cannot keep it going. Bazball is about the transfer of pressure onto the opponents. But after the transfer of pressure, what happens? They should be like, ‘we have to make them pay!’ If they manage to do that, then the game is on. This series would have gone their way with the inexperience we had (in our ranks). They had a huge chance. Even before they came here, they were down 0-2 in the Ashes and levelled it at 2-2. They then plundered Pakistan at their home. But this series loss is something that Ben Stokes and Co could learn from,” concluded Ashwin.
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