Internet Desk: India’s ace spinner Ravichandran Ashwin on Monday became the fastest bowler to claim 300 wickets in test cricket during the fourth day of the second test match against Sri Lanka at VCA Stadium in Jamtha. The off-spinner got past the previous record held by Australian legend Dennis Lillee. Ashwin took 54 test matches to claim 300 wickets compared to Lillee who took 56 matches.
Ashwin claimed the wicket of Lahiru Gamage as his 300th victim in tests.
Later after the match, the Tamil Nadu spinner said, “I really hope I can go on to double these 300 wickets, I’ve only played 50 Tests.”
Ashwin has not featured in the shorter format for the country of late. Both he and Ravindra Jadeja has been on the sidelines.
Talking about the break, Ashwin said, “It has been al longer break than I’ve been used to over the last few years. But I did have a good stint in Worcester and I learnt a lot of things. As you can see, I’ve worked on different loadings, different actions. It’s also helped my patience, wickets haven’t come quickly.”
He added, “The break has helped, I’m a lot fresher now comparatively.”
The off-spinner got his 300th victim off a carrom ball.
“The carrom ball was a good addition; I haven’t bowled many of those in the last 24 months. I’ve worked on different releases for it and now that we are travelling, I think I needed that extra bit,” signed off Ashwin.