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London. Australia legends Matthew Hayden and Ricky Ponting have slammed India’s decision not to include star spinner Ravichandran Ashwin in the final XI for the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
Ashwin, the number one bowler in Test cricket and the highest wicket-taker in the WTC’s 2021-23 cycle, was left out of India’s starting XI for the final against Australia at The Oval and instead opted to go with four fast bowlers. .
“I think Ravichandran Ashwin is an important player,” Hayden told the ICC after the first day’s play. He is the highest wicket taker in this cycle of WTC but he is not in the squad. This decision is worthy of consideration from India’s perspective.
Ravindra Jadeja is the only spinner in the Indian XI in Ashwin’s absence but he could not take wickets on the first day. Australia scored 327 for three on Day 1 with the help of an unbroken partnership of 251 runs for the fourth wicket between Travis Head (146 not out) and Steve Smith (95 not out). termed a mistake.
“So far it looks like it was a mistake to go with four fast bowlers, but let’s see what happens as the game progresses,” he said.
Ponting said, “There is no doubt that the pitch will take a turn as the game progresses. There are many left-handed batsmen in the Australian team against whom Ashwin would have been a better bowler. “Ashwin has been very successful against left-handed batsmen in Test cricket.
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