Ashwin’s presence will boost the Indian camp based on his vast experience playing in England, including playing for two clubs in county cricket. Ashwin, who is second in the ICC’s Test bowlers ranking and third in the all-rounders list, was part of the Indian squad for the first four Tests of the Pataudi Trophy last year, but did not play as the then team management. preferred Ravindra Jadeja as the primary spin all-rounder.
Ashwin could still be in the running for a rescheduled one-off test starting July 1 in Edgbaston, in case conditions support two spinners. Ashwin’s figures in county cricket, where he played for Nottinghamshire and Worcestershire, are impressive: he has 61 wickets at an average of 25.32 and has scored 553 runs at an average of almost 37.
Meanwhile, this morning the quartet of Cheteshwar Pujara, Jasprit Bumrah, Rishabh Pant and Prasidh Krishna appeared as part of the Leicester team. The agreement to make the Indians part of the hosts’ team was reached to allow all visiting players to test their match fitness and workload. The game, a 13-a-side affair, is the only exhibition game the Indians will play before the Test next week.
