Veteran India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was on Tuesday nominated for the ICC Test Cricketer of the Year award. Apart from him, Joe Root, Kyle Jamieson and Dimuth Karunaratne are also in the running for this award. The 35-year-old from Chennai has taken 52 wickets in eight Tests at an average of 16.23 and contributed 337 runs in the last one year with the bat of 28.08 including a century.
R Ashwin, one of the match-winners for India in the longest cricket format, staked his claim as one of the world’s finest spinners in 2021. Apart from his magic with the ball, Ashwin also made invaluable contributions with the bat. Ashwin had a good start to the year in the Sydney Test against Australia, scoring 29 off 128 balls. His partnership with Hanuma Vihari thereafter helped India secure a memorable draw, which tied the historic Test series at 1-1.
Ashwin was adjudged Player of the Series in the home series against England when he took 32 wickets at 14.72 in four matches while contributing 189 runs with the bat. The off-spinner also took four wickets in the ICC World Test Championship final against New Zealand on the seam-friendly wicket of Southampton. After sitting out of all four Tests in England, Ashwin shone in the home series against New Zealand after taking 14 wickets at 11.36 in two matches to win another Player of the Series.
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