India off-spinner R Ashwin, despite his country experience, has not played a single match in the ongoing Test series against England. All-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Shardul Thakur were picked ahead of him in the first Test and he was overlooked in Lord's Test as well due to conditions.
The former India cricketer Farokh Engineer in his recent interaction talked about how wanted Ashwin to play the second Test match at Lord’s but now expects the Chennai-based cricketer to feature in the third Test at Leeds.
“The thing is Ashwin was due to play at Lord's, from what I have heard. I am not privy to inside information of team tactics. But it rained, conditions became cloudy. When the conditions become cloudy, pacers are preferred. So we made the right decisions,” Engineer told Sports Tak.
“But at one time we may have been thinking should we have played Ashwin. At Headingley, we should play three pacers and Ashwin. Because we will get more variety. Don't forget, Ashwin is a very good all-rounder. He is a world class-bowler, but also he is also a very good batsman,” he added.
Engineer then pointed out the offspinner’s fantastic century when England toured India earlier this year which showed his fighting spirit and according to the ex-cricketer, the Indian team needs fighters like Ashwin.
“He got a brilliant hundred in Australia* (Ashwin scored a hundred against England in India). And he is a fighter. We need fighters like him in the team. So, I'd say yes Ashwin should be in the team. At who's expense, we don't know. But because it's a good problem for selectors to have.”
“That we have got all. That we have got 12 or 14, and all 14 are good enough to beat England. But I would play Ashwin in the next Test, he is a magician of a bowler, fighter of a batsman. Very good batsman. So, yes my vote would go to him,” the 83-year-old said.
Farokh Engineer then maintained that Virat Kohli and Co. should make the final call depending on the conditions at Headingley in Leeds where the third Test match will be played from 25 August.
“Again, depending on the wicket. In the rain of the past, England used to prepare greener pitches to suit their fast bowlers, but now India has better openers than England, so they cannot afford to make green pitches, so they will shoot themselves in the foot again,” Engineer signed off.
(With Sports Tak Inputs)
