R Ashwin's best deliveries from the first two Tests
Highlights of R Ashwin's bowling from the first two Tests, including his two dismissals of Steven Smith
ESPNcricinfo staff
30-Dec-2020
R Ashwin has been one of India's key performers on the tour of Australia, taking 10 wickets across two Tests. These five dismissals show how he has deceived the Australia batsmen with flight, variations and hitting the perfect length.
Steven Smith c Ajinkya Rahane, Adelaide, 1st innings
Through the first two Tests, Ashwin has hit the in-between length, not too short or too full, which makes the batsman come forward but not get to the pitch of the ball. He has also varied his pace and flight, bowling some slow and loopy and some flat and quicker. On the second day in Adelaide, he bowled a slow one on that length that turned in to Smith, then landed one on a similar spot but this time flatter and with the seam horizontal, which makes the ball go straight. Smith chose to go back to the ball and played for the turn, and the ball took his outside edge and went straight to first slip.
Through the first two Tests, Ashwin has hit the in-between length, not too short or too full, which makes the batsman come forward but not get to the pitch of the ball. He has also varied his pace and flight, bowling some slow and loopy and some flat and quicker. On the second day in Adelaide, he bowled a slow one on that length that turned in to Smith, then landed one on a similar spot but this time flatter and with the seam horizontal, which makes the ball go straight. Smith chose to go back to the ball and played for the turn, and the ball took his outside edge and went straight to first slip.
Travis Head c&b Ashwin, Adelaide, 1st innings
Ashwin once again beat the batsman with flight, getting Head to press forward but not get to the pitch. Head was looking to on drive, but the ball gripped, stopped a bit and turned away from him, and he ended up just popping it back to Ashwin.
Ashwin once again beat the batsman with flight, getting Head to press forward but not get to the pitch. Head was looking to on drive, but the ball gripped, stopped a bit and turned away from him, and he ended up just popping it back to Ashwin.
Steven Smith c Cheteshwar Pujara, Melbourne, 1st innings
It was flight, dip and bounce that did Smith at the MCG on Boxing Day. Ashwin has attacked the stumps all series but this one was pitched on middle and turning down leg. Smith got forward, but the ball dipped on him, so he had to adjust his hands as the ball spun into his pads. He tried to play with the spin and work the ball behind square on the leg side, but a bit of extra bounce meant the ball hit high on the bat and carried to leg slip. Smith had to walk back for a duck.
It was flight, dip and bounce that did Smith at the MCG on Boxing Day. Ashwin has attacked the stumps all series but this one was pitched on middle and turning down leg. Smith got forward, but the ball dipped on him, so he had to adjust his hands as the ball spun into his pads. He tried to play with the spin and work the ball behind square on the leg side, but a bit of extra bounce meant the ball hit high on the bat and carried to leg slip. Smith had to walk back for a duck.
Tim Paine c Hanuma Vihari, Melbourne, 1st innings
Yet again, it was the flight and length that brought this wicket. Tim Paine had been Australia's best batsman in Adelaide, and at 155 for 6 on the first day in Melbourne, they needed more runs from him. Seeing the ball flighted, Paine took a big forward stride, but the ball was not full enough to drive. He tried to adjust and flick the ball into the leg side but sharp turn meant he ended up hitting it too fine and straight to leg gully.
Yet again, it was the flight and length that brought this wicket. Tim Paine had been Australia's best batsman in Adelaide, and at 155 for 6 on the first day in Melbourne, they needed more runs from him. Seeing the ball flighted, Paine took a big forward stride, but the ball was not full enough to drive. He tried to adjust and flick the ball into the leg side but sharp turn meant he ended up hitting it too fine and straight to leg gully.
Marnus Labuschagne c Ajinkya Rahane, Melbourne, 2nd innings
A beautiful curve ball dismissed Labuschagne at a crucial moment of the Melbourne Test. Ashwin went around the wicket and released the ball with the seam horizontal. The ball actually swung a little in the air away from the batsman before pitching and going on with the angle. Labuschagne played back to the delivery and edged straight to first slip.
A beautiful curve ball dismissed Labuschagne at a crucial moment of the Melbourne Test. Ashwin went around the wicket and released the ball with the seam horizontal. The ball actually swung a little in the air away from the batsman before pitching and going on with the angle. Labuschagne played back to the delivery and edged straight to first slip.