Ashwin’s record-breaking run in Test cricket continued as the star Indian off-spinner surpassed Pakistan pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi to become the highest wicket-taker in Test cricket in the calendar year. With 41 wickets to his name, Ashwin has overtaken Shaheen Afridi on the list.
Ashwin reached the milestone with the wicket of Will Young during the ongoing Test match between India and New Zealand in Kanpur. Ashwin outfoxed Young for 89 and broke the 151-run opening partnership. Afridi is also in action at the moment in Bangladesh, where Pakistan are playing a Test match as part of a two-match series.
Ashwin also went across Wasim Akram’s career tally of 414 wickets in the list of highest Test wicket-takers when he removed Kyle Jamieson in the final session of Day 3. Ashwin has now taken 415 Test wickets in 80 matches.Ashwin made his debut in 2011 against West Indies and has taken 30 five-wicket hauls in his Test career along with 7 ten-wicket hauls in a match. Ashwin has a better bowling average than most of the bowlers above him in the highest wicket-taker lists.
New Zealand, replying to India’s first-innings total of 345, were all out for 296 on day three of the first Test in Kanpur on Saturday. Tom Latham top-scored for the tourists with 95 and his opening partner Will Young contributed 89. India grabbed a 49-run lead for their effort as left-arm spinner Axar Patel (5/62), snapped five wickets to emerge the most successful bowler for the hosts, while Umesh Yadav (1/50), Ravichandran Ashwin (3/82) and Ravindra Jadeja (1/57) scalped one wicket each.
