• Ashwin out of Test after 500th wicket

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    India’s Ravichandran Ashwin withdrew from the ongoing third Test against England on Friday, just hours after becoming only the ninth player in history to take 500 Test wickets.

    The 37-year-old off-spinner had to leave the Test on account of his ailing mother.

    On Saturday, India took to the field with Devdutt Padikkal as a substitute fielder, who cannot bat or bowl, with England on 207-2.

    “Ravichandran Ashwin has withdrawn from the Test squad, effective immediately due to a family medical emergency,” said Jay Shah, the secretary of the BCCI.

    Ashwin had dismissed England opener Zak Crawley for 15 in Rajkot to become only the second Indian to reach the 500-wicket milestone after fellow spinner Anil Kumble.

    Ashwin, an all-rounder who was playing his 98th Test since his debut in 2011, also scored a crucial 37 with the bat, including a 77-run eighth-wicket stand with debutant Dhruv Jurel, to help India post 445 all out in their first innings at Rajkot.

    “It’s a good time to celebrate, probably go have dinner and think about how far I have come in life,” Ashwin had said after the day’s play.

    Ashwin began the Test on 499 wickets and entered the exclusive club with a full-length delivery at leg-stump which Crawley top-edged to Rajat Patidar at fine leg.

    His Indian teammates hugged the bowler, who raised his hand to the applauding crowd.

    He joined fellow spinners Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka, 800), the late Shane Warne (Australia, 708), Kumble (619) and Nathan Lyon (Australia, 517) in the exclusive club.

    It remained an eventful day for Ashwin on the field when he was punished for running down the middle of the pitch with India handed a five-run penalty as a result.

    Ashwin was reprimanded by on-field umpire Joel Wilson in the morning session and England started their first innings with 5-0 as a result of the offence.

    Ashwin attempted to argue his case with Wilson, who then put his arm around the batsman’s shoulder and indicated five to signal the penalty.

    “My poor motor skills did not allow me to get off the pitch in time,” said Ashwin.

    India now remain a bowler short with England racing along at 207-2 at close of play after Ben Duckett (133*) slammed a century in 88 balls.

    India are already without Virat Kohli, who missed the series due to “personal reasons” and KL Rahul, forced out injured in the second and third match.

    The five-Test series remains level at 1-1 after England won the opener and India bounced back in the second match.

    © Agence France-Presse

    Photo: Gareth Copley/Getty Images

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    Simon Borchardt