R. Ashwin calls 2012 England Test series as 'turning point' of his career ahead of 100th Test

Veteran Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin will be playing his 100th Test in the upcoming fifth match against England beginning from Thursday, March 7, at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamsala. The 37-year-old recently became the ninth bowler to complete 500 wickets in the longest format during the third game of the series in Rajkot. He also became the second-fastest bowler to achieve the feat after the legendary Muttiah Muralidaran.

Reflecting on his career ahead of his milestone Test, Ashwin revealed that the 2012-13 series against England was the turning point for him. Notably, England managed to beat India in a Test series after 28 years in the latter’s home in 2012. The off-spinner picked 14 wickets from four matches at an average of 52.64 and an economy of 3.11.

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"The 2012 series against England was the turning point for me. It taught me what to correct in my game. It's a pretty big occasion. More than the destination, the journey has been very special. It doesn't change preparation for this game,” Ashwin was quoted as saying by Times of India.

Further speaking ahead, the Chennai-born cricketer termed the 2018-19 Test in Birmingham as one of his finest spells. Notably, Ashwin picked up 7/121 during the game which included a couple of identical deliveries to get rid of Alastair Cook. The legendary batter was left dumbfounded with a sharp-turner which went through his outside edge and hit the top of his off-stump.

“One of my finest spells in Test cricket has to be 2018-19 in Birmingham," he added.

Ashwin is the joint second-highest wicket-taker of ongoing series

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Meanwhile, he recently picked 5/51 during the second innings of the fourth Test in Ranchi which helped India bundle out England for 145 and eventually win the game by five wickets. Ashwin is the joint second-highest wicket-taker of the series (so far with 17 scalps to his name from four matches at an average of 30.41 and an economy of 3.95. The off-spinner will look to bowl another match-winning spell in his landmark 100th Test for his side in Dharamsala and help them win the series 4-1.