Ahead of the five-match Test series starting January 25, ace India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin admits that England’s brand of cricket, dubbed ‘Bazball’, is exciting.
Ashwin is expected to play a big role for India in their trickiest challenge in recent times in home conditions. Under Ben Stokes’ leadership and Brendon McCullum’s guidance, England have become a force to reckon with in Test cricket. Their ultra-attacking brand is redefining red-ball cricket.
Meanwhile, the English team will face their toughest challenge against India on turning tracks where the Bazball approach might crumble against the likes of Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel.
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Ashwin, leader of India’s spin attack said that he is impressed with England’s approach.
“Bazball excites me. This kind of cricket impresses me. The fearless approach is good, and I am standing here knowing what to expect,” Ashwin said on the sidelines of BCCI Awards 2024, held on Tuesday in Hyderabad.
The offspinner won the Dilip Sardesai Award, after which he also clinched the Best International Cricketer of the Year (2020-21) award for the second time in his career.
Former India head coach Ravi Shastri who was conferred with Lifetime Achievement Award by the BCCI, predicted Ashwin to make things difficult for England in the next couple of months.
“Ashwin just mentioned, I am going to get up and do better. Now that he has had this haircut and his brains are free, with the air going through, now can you imagine what all he is thinking? There could be a ‘Teesra’, there could be a ‘choutha’. England will find out very soon, in the next couple of months,” Shastri said.
Meanwhile, Ashwin is looking to take hold of a couple of historic records.
The veteran has played 95 Tests and considering his importance in the setup especially when playing at home, is expected to play all five matches which will help him complete a historic century. He is also just 10 wickets away from breaching the 500 mark in Test cricket – the milestone which only one Indian has achieved thus far – Anil Kumble.
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