Ashwin passes Hadlee, Bedi with another 5-fa

Spin wizard Ravichandran Ashwin has shattered another record in India’s second Test triumph against Australia, becoming the fastest bowler in history to collect 25 five-wicket hauls.

Ashwin was the architect behind Australia’s fourth-innings collapse in Bengaluru, picking up 6-41 from just 12.4 overs to help India claim a series-levelling 75-run win.

The off-spinner is the 11th player to take 25 or more Test five-fors and with just 47 matches under his belt, he is by far the quickest to the milestone.

New Zealand quick Sir Richard Hadlee was the previous fastest to 25, having taken 63 Tests to achieve the feat.

Ashwin not only beat Hadlee by 15 Tests but he also did it in close to half the matches it took the former Indian record-holder, current India coach Anil Kumble, who took 86 Tests.

Ashwin was one of four bowlers to take a haul of six or more wickets in the match, joining Nathan Lyon (8-50), Ravindra Jadeja (6-63) and Josh Hazlewood (6-67). The match is the first time in Test history that four different bowlers have taken a haul of six or more wickets in an innings.

Now with 269 Test scalps to his name, Ashwin has also moved into fifth place on India’s all-time leading Test wicket-takers list, passing legendary tweaker Bishan Bedi’s tally of 266.

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He now has Zaheer Khan’s tally of 311 wickets in his sights, while Kumble’s all-time Indian benchmark of 619 isn’t out of reach if he continues at his current rate.

The 30-year-old started his his record haul by removing Australia opener David Warner for the third time in the series (and the ninth time in his career) when he the left-hander was struck on the pad attempting a sweep, his review marginally going India’s way.

Ashwin then cut a swathe though Australia’s lower-order, sparking a disastrous collapse of 6-11 after he had Mitch Marsh caught at short leg. 

The wicket of Mitchell Starc appeared particularly pleasing for the right-armer, pointing repeatedly to his head as the Australia No.8 walked off, in reference to an identical gesture made by the left-arm quick to opener Abhinav Mukund in India’s second-innings.

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Earlier in the Test, Ashwin surpassed Kumble’s record for the most overs bowled in a single Test season and has now sent down 3825 balls with two matches still to be played.

But the heavy workload doesn’t appear to be taking a toll, with Ashwin taking to social media to label the second Test as the “best cricket match of my life”.

Test Squads

India (for first two Tests): Virat Kohli (c), Murali Vijay, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Ravichandaran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Karun Nair, Jayant Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav, Abhinav Mukund, Hardik Pandya.

Australia: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Ashton Agar, Jackson Bird, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Stephen O'Keefe, Matthew Renshaw, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, Matthew Wade

Australia's schedule in India

Feb 23-27, First Test, Pune

Mar 4-8, Second Test, Bengaluru

Mar 16-20, Third Test, Ranchi

Mar 25-29, Fourth Test, Dharamsala