NEW DELHI: Former India batter Wasim Jaffer has advocated for Ravichandran Ashwin’s inclusion as the sole frontline spinner in the playing XI for the second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Adelaide.
Ashwin, who was overlooked in the series opener in Perth in favour of the in-form Washington Sundar, has a stellar record at the Adelaide Oval and with the pink ball, making a strong case for his selection.
Border-Gavaskar TrophyJaffer highlighted the impact of Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill's return to the batting lineup, suggesting it provides an opportunity to play the experienced off-spinner.
"I want India to play Ashwin. Spin always plays a part in D/N Tests, and Ash has done well there before. Washi hasn’t done anything wrong, but with Rohit & Gill back to bolster the batting, play your best spinner is what I think. And Ashwin is more than handy with the bat too," Jaffer wrote on X.
Ashwin's pink-ball credentials are impressive, with 18 wickets in the format, and at Adelaide, he has claimed 16 wickets in three matches.
Adding weight to Jaffer's argument, Adelaide Oval curator Damian Hough emphasised the importance of spin in the conditions. "Spin always plays a role in Adelaide. You need to pick a frontline spinner. So, there should never be a question of do we, don't we? It should always be," Hough stated during a media interaction organized by Cricket Australia ahead of the match.
Australia's Nathan Lyon also exemplifies the value of spin at the venue, having taken 63 wickets in 13 Tests at an average of 25.27 at the Adelaide Oval.
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