Ricky Ponting praised Ravichandran Ashwin as the Indian spinner prepares for his 100th Test. Ponting coached Ashwin at Delhi Capitals and saw him evolve as a bowler.
This player started playing in 2011. Since 2013, the now 37-year-old has helped India win many matches. The Tamil Nadu-born cricketer completed 500 wickets in Tests dismissing Zak Crawley in the first innings in Rajkot.
Ponting stated in an edition of the ICC Review that Ashwin does not stick to a single game plan and instead devises many strategies to outwit opponents. He said:
“He’s a master of spin in any conditions. He’s been an incredible cricketer, no doubt about it. I had a chance to coach him for a couple of years at Delhi, and loved working with him. He’s got a lot of theories and philosophies on the game, which I really like. He’s always done things a little bit differently and done things his own way. But he just continued to evolve as a bowler.”
Ricky Ponting
The veteran bowler can also bat well. He has scored over 3300 runs in 99 Tests with 5 centuries and a high score of 124.
Ashwin will play his 100th Test against England in Dharamsala, which begins March 7.
“That’s the thing that I loved about him” – Ricky Ponting
The two-time World Cup-winning skipper recalls Ashwin’s constant search for the smallest improvement. Ricky Ponting added:
“That’s the thing that I loved about him when I was coaching him, he’d stand at the end of his mark and he’d be working on something different, a little tweak to his action or a change of grip or a different delivery. He’s never been one that was going to die wondering about trying to find ways to get better.”
Ricky Ponting
India is already ahead 3-1 in the 5 Test match series against England. They turned things around after losing the first game in Hyderabad.