Hours after rewriting history in the longest format of the game, veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was forced out of Team India’s Test squad for the remainder of the third Test against England on Friday. Confirming Ashwin’s exit from the Indian camp, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah revealed that the senior all-rounder has been withdrawn from the Test squad, effective immediately, due to a family medical emergency.
Although the BCCI refused to reveal the exact reason behind Ashwin’s withdrawal, apex cricket chose to extend its heartfelt support to the ace cricketer and his family in these testing times. Ashwin is also expected to remain unavailable for the 4th and 5th Tests of the England series. Spinner Ashwin became the second Team India bowler after legendary bowler Anil Kumble to complete 500 Test wickets on Day 2 of the Rajkot clash.
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What the ICC rules say about the substitute player
With Ashwin out of the Rajkot clash, India will have to play the entire 3rd Test with 10 men and four specialist bowlers. According to the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) – the custodian of the Laws of the Game, the umpires can allow a substitute player if they are satisfied that a player has been injured or ill during the match. According to MCC Rule No. 24.1.1.2, a team may have a substitute player for “a perfectly acceptable reason”. A substitute may not bowl or act as captain, but the player may be wicket-keeper only with the consent of the umpires. Since Ashwin was not injured or fell ill during the match, India will only be allowed to have a substitute player in Rajkot with the consent of opposition skipper Ben Stokes.
Can’t India replace Ashwin with someone from the XI who can also bat and bowl?
No. According to the game conditions, full substitution of a player is allowed only when he is excluded from the game due to a concussion injury sustained on the field. India would not have been allowed to pick a replacement even if Ashwin was ruled out due to any other injury. Only concussion substitutes are allowed to roll and ball.
However, if India make a formal request to England and Stokes agrees, then there is little chance that Ashwin will be replaced with either Washington Sundar or Axar Patel, who could bowl and bat in the second innings.
Ashwin joins Kumble in the elite 500 club
Ashwin bowled seven overs and claimed the crucial wicket of England skipper Zak Crawley in the 13th over on Day 2 of the 3rd Test at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium. With opener Crawley’s wicket, spin wizard Ashwin became only the third off-spinner to complete 500 Test wickets. Ashwin is the second highest wicket taker for Team India as the senior spinner is only behind the legendary spinner Anil Kumble who ended his illustrious Test career with 619 scalps.
You knew that?
The 37-year-old is the second fastest to unlock the 500-wicket milestone after Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan. Ashwin took 25,714 balls to complete 500 Test wickets. Only Australian Glenn McGrath was quicker than Ashwin to reach the incredible feat in Test cricket. McGrath reached 500 Test wickets in 25,528 balls. The 37-year-old is also the second oldest player to join the 500 club in Test cricket.
Who will replace Ashwin?
If Ashwin is ruled out of the 4th Test, India can rope in all-rounder Washington Sundar in their lineup as a like-for-like replacement. Jayant Yadav, Jalaj Saxena and Pulkit Narang are also spin-bowling options for India out of its Test squad. India will meet England in Ranchi (February 25-29) and Dharamsala (March 7-11) for the remaining two Tests of the five-match series.