R Ashwin retires: A bit of surprise, says Australian skipper Pat Cummins | Cricket News
With Indian all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin announcing his retirement from international cricket after the third Test match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at the Gabba, it meant that the Indian cricketer ended with a total of 765 wickets including 517 Test wickets. Ashwin, who made his debut in Test cricket in 2011 against West Indies, picked up a total of 517 wickets in his Test career and Australian skipper Pat Cummins was all praise for the Indian all-rounder and one of the leading spinners in the world.
Cummins called Ashwin’s retirement midway in the series. “A bit of surprise. He’s obviously a champion player for them, played a lot over the last 10-plus years. He’s had a wonderful career,” Cummins told ABC Sport after the day’s play.
While Cummins expressed his thoughts about Ashwin’s retirement, former Australian coach Darren Lehmann and former Australian pacer Glenn McGrath were initially guessing about Ashwin announcing his retirement only to be at the end of the series. But the duo realised within minutes that the retirement was imminent. Lehmann said he had expected Ashwin to play till Sydney Test. “Ravi Ashwin is probably going to announce his retirement… I didn’t expect with Sydney coming up to be honest. Maybe at the end of this series.. We have to work that out. It might be at the end of the series. But it almost look he has said in the media. He would have been effective in Sydney. And may be it’s that sort of love for the game. He is great. Clapping and hugging and I reckon it’s immediate. I am sure we would have a lot of press after we talk. He has been a great bowler for India. If he has retired, well that’s..” said Lehmann while talking on ABC Sport.
McGrath too showered his praise for Ashwin and called Ashwin’s record as incredible. “His stats are incredible. Over 500 wickets in Test and taking wickets at an average of , which is, I don’t think any other spin bowler has taken at that strike rate. His 537 Test wickets second all-time for India behind Anil Kumble’s 619 wickets,” McGrath said on ABC Sport.
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