England defeated India in the Headingley Test as the hosts wreaked havoc on the Virat Kohli-led visiting side to swing the series back to an even stevens balance after winning the crucial 3rd Test at Leeds.
Joe Root & Co. formed a stronghold over the game on the back of some brilliant batting and bowling performances headlined by the skipper himself Root, among gritty pace bowling from James Anderson and Ollie Robinson to clinch the 3rd Test in the five-match Test series to put an abrupt halt to the soaring spirit of the Indian team after their milestone 151-run win at Lord’s in the 2nd Test.
It is a well-known fact that Team India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has found himself in the eye of the selection storm as the veteran off-break bowler was left out of the playing XI on both occasions prior to not being included in the 3rd Test at Leeds as well.
Former South Africa cricketer Jonty Rhodes, who is presently coaching the Sweden national team, is the latest voice to corroborate statements on the prospects of R Ashwin’s inclusion in India’s first XI under the Shastri-Kohli leadership regime. Rhodes has an affinity towards the land of India as he has worked and spent considerable time in the country as part of his various assignments. He is so enamoured by his days playing cricket in India that he even named his daughter India as a tribute to his love for the nation.
Often cited as the greatest fielder in cricketing history, Rhodes weighed in on Ashwin warming the benche in the series against England and said that he believed the Indian team management along with captain Kohli were responsible for picking the best XI given the conditions for every Test match.
“When you are 1-0 up in the series, it is quite difficult to say that Ravi Ashwin should have been there but it’s kind of team selection up till now, everybody’s sort of backed Virat Kohli and the management, with regards to team that has been selected. You can only play 11 players and it’s up to the captain to decide because he leads the team on the field to really believe that these are the best 11 players who will take 20 wickets in the game to win the Test,” he told The Times of India.
The Proteas legend also highlighted that maybe India showed full belief in an all-pace attack and that’s why chose to drop Ashwin from the playing XI.
“That is your priority and maybe it is about an all-seam attack. From that point of view yes Ashwin has incredible figures, and I don’t think so his career Is just over, that’s for sure. But right now, what Kohli is facing, with his team in England, maybe he just doesn’t see that as the correct balance in the starting 11. There are only 11 places, someone’s got to sit out,” added Rhodes.
Given the 34-year-old’s outstanding international records with the ball, it is too soon to discount Ashwin for hanging his boots just yet. It will be interesting to see whether the ace spinner gets a chance in the tour ahead or not.
India have lost the 3rd Test at Headingley in Leeds to England by an innings and 76 runs. Now, the India-England Test series stands tied at 1-1 with the 4th Test at The Oval starting on September 2.
