"Always working out a cunning plan" - Australian batting legend hails Ravichandran Ashwin after Indian spinner announces sudden retirement
Former Australian opener Matthew Hayden hailed Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin as a smart cricketer who always seemed to be working on a 'cunning' plan. Ashwin announced his unexpected retirement from international cricket on Wednesday, December 18.
The rain-affected third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia ended in a draw at the Gabba in Brisbane. Following the conclusion of the Test match, Ashwin accompanied skipper Rohit Sharma at the post-match press conference and announced his international retirement.
Speaking to Star Sports, Hayden was effusive in his praise of the seasoned Indian off-spinner and wished him a wonderful retirement. The former Aussie batter said (as quoted by Times of India):
“Yeah, I think Sunny (Sunil Gavaskar) described him really well--a very smart cricketer. And you know, he's a cricketer who just stays on task, always working out a cunning plan. He's got great belief in his own ability. He's quite polarizing in many ways when it comes to the cricketing public, and even to his own team - he's a very strong-minded person. But I personally want to wish Ashwin a wonderful retirement."
Ashwin featured in only one of the three Tests of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He replaced Washington Sundar for the second Test in Adelaide, registering figures of 1-53 in 18 overs in the first innings.
A look at Ravichandran Ashwin's stats and records in international cricket
Having made his international debut in 2010, Ashwin represented India in 106 Tests, 116 ODIs and 65 T20Is. The Tamil Nadu cricketer claimed 537 wickets in Test matches, averaging 24, with 37 five-fers and eight 10-wicket match hauls. The 38-year-old picked up 156 and 72 scalps in ODIs and Tests, respectively.
The off-spinner is second on the list of India's all-time wicket-takers in international cricket. Ashwin ended his career with 765 scalps, while former leg-spinner Anil Kumble picked up 953 wickets.
Apart from being the quickest to reach 350 Test scalps, Ashwin is the only player in Test history with more than five hundreds (six) and 500 wickets. With 37 five-fers, he's second on the list of bowlers with most five-wicket hauls in Test cricket - only Sri Lankan legend Muttiah Muralitharan (67) is above him. Ashwin has also been adjudged the Player of the Series 11 times, a record he shares with Muralitharan.