Ravichandran Ashwin, India’s current best right-arm off-spinner was not selected for the ongoing fourth test match. Former cricketers took twitter to criticize the decision. India is playing 4 fast bowlers and 1 spinner. The match started on 2nd September at the Oval.
India made two changes for the match against England but Ashwin was once again left out of the playing XI. Virat Kohli decided to stick to his four pacers and a spinner combination as he included Umesh Yadav and Shardul Thakur replacing Mohammed Shami and Ishant Sharma. The replaced bowlers are suffering from niggles.
“The non selection of @ashwinravi99 has to be greatest NON selection we have ever witnessed across 4 Tests in the UK !!! 413 Test wickets & 5 Test 100s !!!! #ENGvIND Madness …” – Michael Vaughan
“Surprising to see no @ashwinravi99 in India’s XI, I believe there’s ample room to play both spinners and 3 specialist quicks. @root66 will line this attack up once again! #ENGvIND” – Tom Moody
“I really hope it works but I am flabbergasted that India have gone in without Ashwin again.”- Harsha Bhogle
“Am a little surprised that @ashwinravi99 has been omitted from this 4th Test #ENGvIND at The Oval.
@abutch58 @markbutcher72 would know more about the pitches at Surrey CCC. Your thoughts gentlemen?”- Alan Wilkins
“I can’t believe they left out Ashwin again, on England’s most spin-friendly ground. This team is unbelievable. You pick your five best bowlers, @ashwinravi99 has to be the first or second name. Omitting him & @MdShami11 at the Oval is like a death-wish — as if you want to lose!”- Shashi Tharoor
Kohli reasoned that left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja is a good option against four left handers in the English line-up using the rough created by the fast bowlers. Jos Buttler missed out to be with his wife who is due to give birth to their second child. England made two changes, bringing in Ollie Pope and Chris Woaks replacing Jos Buttler and Sam Curran.
The five-match series is currently tied 1-1 after England won the third Test by an innings and 76 runs at Leeds. England levels the series with a victory over India in the 3rd Test at Headingly. | Artifex.News
Teams: India: Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli(c), Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant(w), Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj
England: Rory Burns, Haseeb Hameed, Dawid Malan, Joe Root(c), Ollie Pope, Jonny Bairstow(w), Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Craig Overton, Ollie Robinson, James Anderson.
(image credit: Wikimedia Common)