The last time R Ashwin took four wickets in the first innings was in the pink ball Test in Adelaide in 2020 and was instrumental in bowling out Australia for 194 runs. After India were bowled out for 36 runs in the second innings, it was forgotten that India had taken a lead of 43 runs courtesy of Ashwin.
So that’s one of the reasons to play now. Given the return of Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill and how well Nitish Reddy has handled himself with the bat in Perth, there is less worry about whether the batting will last. They feel they don’t need Washington Sundar’s batting prowess for this game.
Incidentally, Ashwin is bowling a lot in the nets, and well at that. There was a beautiful drifter that he bowled to Reddy, before shaping him, taking the edge and pulling him forward.
R Ashwin has taken 16 wickets at an economy rate of 2.64 in three matches at this ground.
Two days before the net, near its conclusion, Gautam Gambhir and Rohit Sharma were seen having a long conversation. At its conclusion, Gambhir approached Ashwin, put his hand on his shoulder, and chatted for about 15-20 minutes. The next day, Thursday, was an optional nets session and Ashwin was among the handful. And his batting session was good.
Last time in the first innings in Adelaide, Ashwin dismissed Steve Smith for 1, Travis Head for 7 and Cameron Green for 11 runs. Smith was dismissed by a drifter, his poke just past the slips. Head fell, trying to work the ball on the side, but a leading edge meant it went straight back to Ashwin.
“We have made three changes. I’m back, Gill is back and Ashwin is back in place of Vashi, Padikkal and Jurel,” Rohit Sharma said at the toss.
“I am batting in the middle order, which is different but I am ready for the challenge,” he added.
Playing XIs
Australia XI: Usman Khawaja, Nathan McSweeney, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey (wicketkeeper), Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland
India XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Lokesh Rahul, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma (c), Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Mohammad Siraj, Harshit Rana