IND vs AUS: Ashwin, in his decorated career, has played only 10 Test matches Down Under. (AP)
Ashwin Ravichandran is set to get the nod for the lone spinner role in Perth. With a few days left for India’s first Test match against Australia, it is learned that the Indian team is favouring the veteran offspinner for the playing XI. The Indian Express understands that the reason for going with Ashwin is due to Australia likely selecting at least three left-handed batsmen in their line-up.
The pitch at the Optus Stadium in Perth is expected to be a green carpet and it’s no-brainer that fast bowlers will have to do most of the job. The Indian team is mulling a combination of three seamers, one fast bowling all-rounder in Nitish Kumar Reddy who is set to earn his Test cap, and one-spinner in the form of Ashwin. Australia have Usman Khawaja, Travis Head and Alex Carey in their main batting unit and Ashwin is known to have good record against left-handers. In addition, he troubled Steve Smith too last time.
The Indian team contingent is traveling with three spinners for the five-Test match series in Australia which begins from November 22. Apart from Ashwin, left-arm allrounder Ravindra Jadeja and off-spinner Washington Sundar are also in the travelling contingent.
Ashwin, in his decorated career, has played only 10 Test matches Down Under. He has taken 39 wickets at an average of 42.15. It has been a big challenge for the Indian side to play two of their best spinners – Ashwin-Jadeja – on away tours. Ashwin has had to sit out often with Jadeja getting picked primarily due to his improved batting.
But the new team management under head coach Gautam Gambhir seems to believe in match-ups. When India played New Zealand at home a few weeks ago, they called up Washington after initially not selecting him, looking at the Kiwis batting line-up which also a variety of left-handers at the top.
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