Border-Gavaskar Trophy: Ravichandran Ashwin becomes 2nd fastest bowler to 450 Test scalps

New Delhi: Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has become the second-fastest bowler to 450 Test wickets. He dismissed Alex Carey during the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy to claim his 450th scalp and he reached the feat in just 89 matches. Ashwin only stands behind the legendary off-spinner Muthaiah Murlidaran, who did it in 80 matches.

Ashwin surpassed Anil Kumble in this feat as the former Indian captain achieved it in 93 matches. India’s ace spinner has also been the fastest to 250, 300 and 350 wickets and also has been the second fastest to 400 scalps. His 30 five-wicket hauls are proof of his quick achievements.

With 450 Test wickets, the cricketer stands in the ninth position in the list of all-time highest Test wicket takers. This also takes his tally of international wickets to 673.

In the Nagpur Test, Ashwin picked two wickets till Tea. Alex Carey played a quick inning of 36 runs off 33 balls, courtesy of his reverse sweeps. Ashwin managed to get him out on a sweep shot as the ball struck his bottom edge and went on to hit the stumps. He kept on beating Australian captain Pat Cummins with spin and finally dismissed him off an edge as Virat Kohli took a catch in the slips.

Australia had a poor start after openers Usman Khawaja and David Warner were dismissed early by Mohammed Siraj and Shami to put the visitors on a score of 2/2. Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne laid an 82-run stand to lead Australia into a comfortable position in the first session.

The pitch witnessed turn and bounce in the second session and Ravindra Jadeja struck in two consecutive deliveries to bring India back into the game. Jadeja picking four and Ashwin picking two wickets helped India to restrict Australia to 174/8 at Tea.