Rajkot: Ravichandran Ashwin reached a massive milestone on Friday, becoming only the second Indian – and ninth in the world — to capture 500 Test wickets.
The 37-year-old off-spinner, who went into the third Test against England here at Niranjan Shah Stadium on 499, reached Mt 500 when he dismissed England opener Zak Crawley in the final session of the second day’s play.
The wily spinner had Crawley top-edging a sweep to Rajat Patidar.
Watch the moment in the video posted on X by BCCI:
𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙇𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙠 𝙈𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩! 👏 👏
Take A Bow, R Ashwin 🙌 🙌
Follow the match ▶️ https://t.co/FM0hVG5pje#TeamIndia | #INDvENG | @ashwinravi99 | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/XOAfL0lYmA
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 16, 2024
Ashwin, who followed leg-spinner Anil Kumble (619 wickets), also the became second-fastest to achieve the feat — in his 98th Test match. Sri Lankan offie Muttiah Muralitharan had reached the 500-wicket milestone in 87 Tests.
Muralitharan leads the pack with a staggering 800 Test wickets (check list below).
Ashwin’s magical moment was, however, overshadowed by a breathtaking century by Ben Duckett as England raced to 207/2 in just 35 overs in reply to India’s first-innings total of 445.
The swashbuckling left-handed opener brought up his third Test century in 88 balls and was unbeaten on 133 (118 balls, 21×4, 2×6) at close on Friday.
India resumed on Day 2 at 326/5 and lost bother overnight batters Ravindra Jadeja (112) and nightwatchman Kuldeep Yadav in the fist half hour.
Debutant Dhruv Jurel (46) and Ashwin (37) took India past 400 with a 77-run partnership before Jasprit Bumrah (26) hit some big shots in the end.
Brief Scores
India 445 in 130.5 overs (Ravindra Jadeja 112, Dhruv Jurel 46, Ravichandran Ashwin 37; Mark Wood 4/114).
England 207/2 in 35 overs (Ben Duckett 133 batting, Ollie Pope 39).
Match to continue on Day 2, England trail by 238 runs.
500 TEST WICKETS CLUB
* Muthiah Muralidaran (ICC/SL) – 800 wickets in 133 Tests
* Shane Warne (Aus) – 708 wickets in 145 Tests
* Jimmy Anderson (Eng) – 696 wickets in 185 Tests
* Anil Kumble (Ind) – 619 wickets in 132 Tests
* Stuart Broad (Eng) – 604 wickets in 167 Tests
* Glenn McGrath (Aus) – 563 wickets in 124 Tests
* Courtney Walsh (WI) – 519 wickets in 132 Tests
* Nathan Lyon (Aus) – 517 wickets in 127 Tests
* Ravichandran Ashwin (Ind) – 500 wickets in 98 Tests.
Note: Anderson and Ashwin are both playing the ongoing Rajkot Test match.
