The veteran Indian spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin made history on Sunday as he became the first spinner to bowl the first over in a County Championship match after a gap of 11 years when he started the proceedings for Surrey against Somerset at The Oval. Ashwin, who decided to play for Surrey to prepare for next month’s Test series against England, opened the bowling for Surrey after Somerset captain James Hildreth won the toss and elected to bat first.
Ravichandran Ashwin, who replaced the injured Kyle Jamieson for this game, conceded just 2 runs from the first over of the match bowled to Somerset openers, Devon Conway and Steven Davies.
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The veteran off-spinner later picked up the wicket of No.3 batsman Tom Lammonby for 42 in the 40th over which left Somerset reeling at 113 for 3.
Here is the video of the incident:
👀 Don't leave those.
WATCH LIVE ⏩ https://t.co/0WriMzkGx9 pic.twitter.com/nbJ6zvMyyx
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) July 11, 2021
Somerset reached 197 for 3 at Tea on Day 1 with captain Hildreth (55) and Lewis Goldsworthy (32) unbeaten at the crease. Ravichandran Ashwin had figures of 1 for 58 from 24 overs before the players broke for tea.
Ravichandran Ashwin has played for Nottinghamshire and Worcestershire in the County Championships in the past. He joins Hashim Amla as the second overseas player for Surrey in their final Group 2 match.
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Ashwin has been in England along with the rest of India’s Test squad after the World Test Championship final last month. Ravichandran Ashwin had also vacationed with his family and even caught up with Wimbledon action from the All England Club earlier this week.
R Ashwin will play only one match for Surrey as he will join the rest of the Indian team, who were given a 20-day break, to gear up for the 4-Test series against England, starting August 4. Ravichandran Ashwin has been named in Surrey’s 13-man squad for the fixture.
