England’s Joe Root Hails Ashwin’s “Variety” and “Relentless Pursuit” Ahead of 100th Test

England batsman Joe Root heaped praise on Ravichandran Ashwin, calling the Indian off-spinner a “constant threat” who never relents in his pursuit of wickets.

Ashwin, who recently crossed the 500-wicket mark in Test cricket and is on the cusp of his 100th Test appearance, poses a significant challenge for England in the upcoming fifth and final match of the series starting March 7th in Dharamsala.

Speaking on the Sky Sports cricket podcast, Root highlighted Ashwin’s diverse bowling repertoire and aggressive mindset as key factors behind his success.

“He’s always trying to find ways to get you out, not just wear you down,” Root said, contrasting Ashwin’s approach to other spinners.

Root, currently enjoying a break in the series, elaborated on Ashwin’s variations, mentioning his ability to use different creases, spin variations, and the deceptive carrom ball.

“He keeps you guessing and forces you to have a very good skill set to counter him,” acknowledged the former England captain.

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Further dissecting Ashwin’s bowling, Root revealed the bowler’s tendency to mix up deliveries within an over, keeping the batsman on his toes.

“He doesn’t let you settle, trying to drag you across and beat both edges,” explained Root, adding that Ashwin’s seam position and use of the new ball also demand quick adjustments from the batsman.

Root compared Ashwin’s approach to that of Nathan Lyon, another leading off-spinner, highlighting Lyon’s reliance on bounce and drift to create wicket-taking opportunities.

While England’s aggressive batting approach, nicknamed “Bazball,” hasn’t yielded desired results in the ongoing series, Root downplayed any frustration within the team. He acknowledged the consistency of their top order but conceded the challenges of attacking batting, especially in the second innings on Indian pitches.

“The bigger picture is about finding the best in our game,” emphasized Root, highlighting the need for adaptability and learning from each match.

With Jonny Bairstow, England’s wicketkeeper-batsman, struggling for runs, Root expressed his full backing for his Yorkshire teammate. “He’s a superstar, and I have no doubt he’ll come good,” said Root, recalling Bairstow’s talent and resilience since his early days.

The upcoming Test in Dharamsala promises to be a crucial one, with Ashwin’s presence adding another layer of intrigue to the already enthralling encounter.