5 Occasions when Ravi Ashwin spun a web around the batsmen in Tests

1. 7/59 vs New Zealand, 2016

In the 2nd innings, New Zealand were set a daunting target of 475 runs to pull off an improbable victory on a track that was offering a lot of help for the spinners. And, Ravi Ashwin took full advantage of it, to record his best figures in Test cricket for India.

His first wicket was that of the Kiwi skipper Kane Williamson. To a ball that pitched outside off stump and turned sharply, Williamson tried to play across the line, but failed to get bat on ball. It was a pretty straight forward decision for the umpire, as the Kiwi stalwart was caught in front of the stumps. Ashwin then scalped Ross Taylor with a ball that was slower through the air. Taylor went for the sweep shot, but missed the line of the delivery, and the ball crashed onto his stumps.

The next man to succumb to Ashwin’s guile was Luke Ronchi. To a ball that was full, Ronchi went onto the back foot and paid the price. The ball turned in, and took out his off stump. Ashwin then went through the defence of Mitchell Santner and Jeetan Patel to leave New Zealand reeling.

Matt Henry tried to be aggressive and gave Ashwin the charge. But the latter was smarter, and tossed the ball up to the batsman. Henry failed in his attempt to clear the fielder, and Mohammed Shami completed an easy catch at mid off. Ashwin’s final scalp was that of Trent Boult. Boult too gave Ashwin the charge, but hit the ball straight back to the bowler. Ashwin gleefully accepted the offering, to finish with stupendous figures of 7/59.

Note: All stats have been taken from Howstat cricket and Cricinfo and have been updated as on 16th September 2020.