Two Tests into the series, Ravichandran Ashwin, the No.2 ranked ICC Test bowler hasn’t played a game yet, although the off-spinner has revealed that he was benched at the last minute at Lord’s. Wisden India writers have their say on whether he should play the third Test.

Ashwin has come a long way since the 2014 tour of England, where he finished with three wickets in two Tests. Since the start of 2018, the off-spinner has 43 wickets in 12 Tests in SENA countries (South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia) at an average of 28.23, the best among spinners with more than 10 wickets in these countries in this time frame.

The off-spinner had a decent outing in the WTC final, where he picked up two early wickets in New Zealand’s second innings to give India a glimmer of hope, but has been benched thereafter in the first two Tests against England. With India 1-0 up in the series heading into the third Test in Leeds, Wisden India writers have their say on whether the off-spinner should be in the XI for the Test starting on 25th August.

Aadya Sharma, Wisden India Editor

The fact that India are able to keep a player of R Ashwin’s calibre out speaks volumes about their fast-bowling might, but if India are looking to seal this series from here on, they’ll need their star wicket-taker in to lead the way. Despite the brilliance of the quicks, there were certain stages in the first two Tests where the game looked to drift out of India’s hands (especially with Joe Root going great guns) and it’s where they needed R Ashwin’s expertise to make things happen, especially when the pitches are leaning heavily towards the batsmen.

India wouldn’t want to change the winning combination right after Lord’s, but the pitches at The Oval and Manchester are likely to spin, and it’s absolutely imperative that Ashwin, also an able bat, is drafted in to exploit the surfaces at least, especially since Ravindra Jadeja, the only other spinner, has now gone five innings without a wicket.

Sarah Waris, Wisden India staff writer

As much as I have backed Ashwin to feature in the XI, I do not feel that he should be given a go in the next game over the quicks unless the pitch really has considerable turn on offer.

Not only will it be inconsistent and unfair on the four bowlers who did well at Lord’s, it will also mean unnecessary pressure on Ashwin, who will, irrespective of his stature as a Test bowler now, have to sort of justify his selection in the XI.

The only possible player he can replace is Jadeja, but the all-rounder’s skills with the bat — a batting average of 48.57 since the start of 2019 — just can’t be ignored. India’s tail, as well as they’ve done, is still not the most reliable, and having Ashwin over Jadeja will be a huge risk in terms of batting depth.

Rohit Sankar, Wisden India staff writer

With the Indian team finding the ideal formula in England in the first two Tests, it makes little sense to push Ashwin into the XI at this stage, as much as he has been in good rhythm with the ball in overseas Tests. The only way Ashwin can come in at this stage is for one of the four quicks if India decide to field two spinners like in the WTC final.

Jadeja’s place is all but assured as the all-rounder in the side with his bowling, despite going wicketless, being tidy enough to facilitate the quicks to operate at full tilt. Given how Mohammed Siraj, the quick most likely to make way should there be a change, has performed this series, it seems nigh impossible for Ashwin to come in at this stage.

This, of course, changes if the pitch is likely to dry up and aid spin, an unlikely proposition at Headingley.

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