R. Ashwin is the fear factor for Aussies in BGT series

If India have problems in their batting order, the Aussies seem psyched out already, on how to deal with spin, specifically Ashwin.

R. Ashwin is the fear factor for Aussies in BGT series

R. Ashwin

A day before the first Test in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, two things the Aussies are obsessed with are the pitch at Jamta and R. Ashwin. The good part, for India, the visitors can do nothing about it. Just grin and bear it, could be the mantra.

Expert predictions in cricket need to be taken with a pinch of salt, most of them lack basis and smack of bias. If you go through the Aussie social media handles, other social media posts, and so on, most of them will give the series to the team from Down Under.

If that is the case, why is there so much fuss about how the pitch is being dressed up for the big day, Thursday, when the first ball will be bowled? These days, images of the square being watered, rolled, dressed up, no grass, bone dry, and so on will catch your eye. More expert views will revolve around what kind of “doctored” pitch the Indians will prepare.

All this is happening because there is apprehension and anxiety for the Aussies, even though they have a fairly strong batting line-up. The fear factor for them is R. Ashwin, 36 years and 144 days old, a champion who has taken 449 wickets in 88 Tests. He is not a bad bat either, having scored over 3,000 runs.

In the good old days, when the Australians had fast bowlers who could hurt with pace, they never bothered so much. Those fast bowlers from the days of Lillee and Thommo, OK, Denis Lillee and Jeff Thomson, and even before could torture the Indian batting. Times have changed, even at their own venues in Australia, the cocky Aussies could not win in 2021. What happened two years ago was no fluke and for them to come to India after that is worrying.

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Off-spinner Ashwin has a great record against Australia and has already psyched them out before the first Test in Nagpur

R. Ashwin
R. Ashwin

If India have problems in their batting order, the Aussies seem psyched out already, on how to deal with spin, specifically Ashwin. In his 12th year as a Test player, Ashwin has been a stand-out. To say that he is improving by the day will be stating the obvious. It is the improvisation and variety which bamboozles batsmen which have the Aussies worried. At a time when batters do not use their feet and rely more on the sweep, Ashwin will pose plenty of challenges.

He can churn out so much variety, from early on, the mind games have already begun. Anyone who has seen Ashwin bowl will vouch he can show six different types of deliveries in an over. Maybe, the earlier batsmen who knew how to use their feet would have handled him better. No, today, Ashwin, the pitch, and his partner Ravindra Jadeja have already given them sleepless nights.

You cannot blame me, really. In the past, pace was their ace. The accent is now on spin, even for the Aussies, though injuries have hurt them also. What’s the challenge about facing Ashwin? Plenty, actually. He wins the mind game before the match, uses the red ball like a true weapon, variations are plenty. And if there is some assistance from the pitch, backed by good fielding, he will rip through the rival side. This is the worry for the Aussies.

In 18 Tests, Ashwin has taken 89 wickets against Australia, an envious record. People call him a veteran, but he does not mind it, as he still has the sting. Maybe, he will break the record of Harbhajan Singh, Bhajji in short, who took 95 wickets against Australia in 18 Tests. All these stats are telling, for it shows the Aussie weakness against spinners.

How Ashwin performs is of great interest because it is hard to visualise him playing one more series against the Aussies, again, at home. With maximum emphasis now on white ball cricket and of course the ICC World Test Championship final, Ashwin is the cynosure. Just imagine, the first ball has not even been bowled!

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