Pune, India
Ace Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has surpassed Australian great Nathan Lyon on the wickets tally in Tests, becoming the seventh highest wicket-takers (531* and counting) with his second scalp of the day against New Zealand on day one of the Pune Test. With three wickets thus far inside the second session, Ashwin leads Lyon in the wickets category in WTC history, with his number reading 189, while Lyon has picked 187 thus far.
Playing his 104th Test, 39th in the WTC cycle since its inception in 2019, Ashwin has the best strike rate for a spinner (44.44*) and the second-best behind Proteas quick Kagiso Rabada (38.87*). In 74 innings thus far, he has 189 wickets (and counting to his name) – a tally testament to his greatness as a Test cricket legend.
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On the overall tally, Ashwin is seventh on the list of most wicket-takers in Tests, second Indian after Anil Kumble (619), and fourth spinner after him, Muttiah Muralitharan (800) and Shane Warne (708).
Ashwin picks three inside two sessions on day one
Ashwin gave India the first breakthrough by removing New Zealand captain Tom Latham, trapped in front on 15. Next, he removed Will Young, caught by Rishabh Pant on 18, before getting the big wicket in player-in-form Devon Conway, caught behind on 76.
Conway’s wicket was the moment he surpassed Lyon on the overall tally.
However, his fellow offie, Washington Sundar, picked two wickets just on the stroke of lunch, removing the dangerous-looking Rachin Ravindra on 65 and keeper-batter Tom Blundell on just three, both deliveries being unplayable.
T. I. M. B. E. R! ?
Cracker of a ball! ? ?
Washington Sundar with a breakthrough ? ?
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— BCCI (@BCCI) October 24, 2024
Despite New Zealand trying to build on the momentum, they lost a bit of it in a few overs, with their scorecard at lunch on day one reading 201 for five in 62 overs.
Daryll Mitchell and Glenn Phillips are now on the crease.
Ashwin-Lyon face-off
Ashwin and Lyon will face off in the forthcoming Border-Gavaskar series, starting with the first Test in Perth on November 22.
As India plays five Tests Down Under, Ashwin and Lyon will cross paths several times in the marquee series, motivating the other to play out of his skin and do better, making it a mouth-watering contest for the fans watching the world over.
India will face Australia in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney in their remaining four Tests.
(With inputs from agencies)