Congrats to Ashwin for the very special record of being only the 3rd Indian to have achieved the record of five wickets haul and a century in an innings.He must be proud to share the honour with very illustrious names in Indian cricket , the likes of Poly Umrigar and Vinoo Mankad.This honour coming as early as in the 3rd Test in his Test career augers well for his future.Our best wishes.
There have been many chances in the cricket history that you have come with a particular specialization but have been successful in the other side. Examples are M.L. Jaisimaha from Hyderabad, who was selected in the Indian Team asa Medium pace Bowler but became more successful as an Opening Batsman. Salim Durrani from Rajasthan, who was selected as specialist Batsman but was more successful as a Slow Left Arm Spinner. But this is not the case with Ashwin. Although he has been selected as a Spialist Spinner, he is also a specialised opener. Initially when he joined cricket, he was an opener and even in Ranji Trophy he started as an opening batsman for Tamil Nadu and has couple of centuries in his record. Keep it up Ashwin.
It is a great achievement and that also in the very intial stage of the career. Although I do not remember about the feat of Vinu Mnakad as at that time I was just a six years old and did not know the ABC of Cricket But I fondly remember the feat of Poly Umrigar in the year 1962 against the West Indies in the West Indies against the most fearful bowlers such as Wesley Hall and Griffith et al. It was in this series that Nariman Contractor was injured with a ball of Griffith and his career was finished. Pol;y Umrigar mad 172 not out against the West Indies and unfortunately it was his last testmatch of the carreer as immediately after the tour he resigned, although he was still in a good form The reason was Politics. Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi who was just a baby of the team was made vice-captain under the captain ship of Nari Contractor which Poly Umrigar could resist as according to him there were so many senior plays such Chandu Borde, Vijay Manjrekar etc. and to avoid them was an insult to all of them. Anyhow this is a History now. BST
