Ravichandran Ashwin breaking a record by going past spin legend Muttiah Muralitharan in dismissing left-handers the most was perhaps overshadowed by India’s series- levelling victory against Australia in the second Test at Melbourne.
The success in the Boxing Day Test won accolades from every corner of the cricketing world and talks centered around the character shown by Ajinkya Rahane and his boys, and the defining role players like Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja played. Jadeja did get his share of limelight, especially for his half-century in the first innings, one gets the feeling Ashwin deserved more.
Just like the fact that Ashwin breaking Muralitharan record warranted better space.
No other bowler in the world has dismissed left-handers more than Ashwin now. The India off-spinner now has 192 wickets against left-handers – the most. Ashwin achieved the feat on Day 4 of the Boxing Day Test when he dismissed Josh Hazlewood on Tuesday.
Previously the record to dismiss most left-handers was held by Muralitharan with 191 wickets.
51.2% of Ashwin’s wickets against the left-handers is also the highest by some margin. Ashwin has 375 wickets in 73 Tests so far.
England pacer James Anderson is third in the list and has claimed the wicket of 186 southpaws. Australia’s Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne have dismissed 172 left-handers each, however, the spinner is the leading wicket-taker for the Aussies in Test.
