WTC final: Hayden and Ponting criticize India’s decision to drop Ashwin

London. Australian legends Matthew Hayden and Ricky Ponting strongly criticized India’s decision not to include star spinner Ravichandran Ashwin in the playing XI for the World Test Championship (WTC) final. Ashwin, the number one bowler in Test cricket and the highest wicket-taker in the 2021-23 cycle of the WTC, was dropped by India in the final against Australia at The Oval and instead decided to go with four fast bowlers. .

Hayden told the ICC after the end of the first day’s play, “I believe Ravichandran Ashwin is an important player.” He is the highest wicket taker in this cycle of WTC but he is not in the team.This decision is worth considering in India’s perspective. Ravindra Jadeja is the only spinner in the Indian XI in the absence of Ashwin but he could not take wickets on the first day. Australia scored 327 for three on the first day with the help of an unbroken 251-run partnership for the fourth wicket between Travis Head (146 not out) and Steve Smith (95 not out).

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World Cup-winning captain Ponting termed the decision to drop Ashwin as a mistake. He said, “So far it looks like going with four fast bowlers was a mistake, but let’s see what happens as the game progresses.” The pitch will turn as you move forward. There are many left-handed batsmen in Australia’s team against whom Ashwin would have proved to be a better bowler. Ashwin has been very successful against left-handed batsmen in Test cricket.