Ashwin’s 500th scalp was a timely one for India, after England’s openers had responded to India’s first-innings score of 445 with an 89-run stand in just 13 overs. He broke the partnership by having Crawley top-edging a sweep to Rajat Patidar at short fine leg.
“I would like to dedicate this to my father, he’s responsible for everything I’ve done in my life. He’s lived it through, had heart-attacks every time I’ve played. I think his health has gone for a toss because he’s watched games of mine on TV and been a constant support for me,” Ashwin said with a laugh at the end of the day’s play. “I’m sure he will be very happy today. But yeah, 500 wickets done and dusted now, and we’ve got a game hanging in the balance.”
England rode on an 88-ball hundred from Ben Duckett to end the second day on 207 for 2 in just 35 overs, trailing India by 238 runs.
“They are showing a lot of intent, playing like how they would play in a T20 or one-day game. Given us less time to think and also less labour,” Ashwin said of England’s aggressive batting. “Have to bowl good balls and expect one of those airy-fairy shots to go to hand.
“The surfaces we have played on in this Test series have enabled the batters to have a reasonable amount of time in the first three-four days. I expect this pitch to get tough on day five. Having said that we just need to hang in there and wheel away and exercise best disciplines like you would in Test cricket. England have found themselves in such situations before and we’ve found a way to pull ourselves back into the match.”
His 500th wicket was Ashwin’s tenth in this series, in his fifth innings, and he has averaged about 34 per wicket at a strike rate of 50. He had figures of 3 for 68 and 3 for 126 in the first Test in Hyderabad, and 0 for 61 and 3 for 72 in the second in Visakhapatnam.
