Veteran India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has lauded WTC champions Australia for beating England by two wickets in the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston. He also said that ‘ice-cool’ Australia beat Bazball by sticking to their conventional cricket after their resounding victory against India earlier this month as well.

Ashwin said on his YouTube channel: “England were fire. Australia were ice. Australia neutralised England’s fire with their ice-cool attitude (in Ashes opener). Firstly, the origin of Bazball: Till a couple of years back, England had pitches full of life. The ball used to seam all over the place. Batters struggled, except for Joe Root.”So, they decided. If we give pitches like this, it’s going to be tough. So, let’s give batting pitches and increase the tempo, score runs fast, and give bowlers more time. England did it successfully.”

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However, Ravichandran Ashwin also opened up on how Australia thrashed England in the first Ashes Test. He explained that it has become easier to chase in England in the last two years as well. He also said that Australia were always in the game because of the batting-friendly pitch in the first Test in Edgbaston. He also shared how England had chased 378 successfully against India in 2022 at the same venue as well.

Notably, the second Test will be played at Lord’s on June 28 as well.

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“India went to the last (rescheduled fifth) Test at Edgbaston, they were successful (chased 378). (They) did it in Pakistan, did it (at home) versus Ireland and South Africa. In the last two years, fourth-innings chases in England have become possible. Look at Cummins and Lyon! It has become imaginable thing. Previously, 250+ chases in the fourth innings were incredibly difficult,” Ravichandran Ashwin concluded.