Ashwin falls just short of 80-year-old record

India's Ravichandran Ashwin has become the second-fastest bowler in Test history to take 200 Test wickets, reaching the milestone on day four of the first Test against New Zealand.

Ashwin claimed three wickets early in NZ's second innings, moving to 200 Test wickets in just his 37th Test.

The Indian spinner sits behind only Australia's great legspinner Clarrie Grimmett, who still hold the record mark of 36 Tests, achieved in 1936.

Australian paceman Dennis Lillee, Pakistan's Waqar Younis (both with 200 wickets in 38 Tests) and South Africa's Dale Steyn (39 Tests) are the only other players in history to reach 200 wickets in less than 40 Tests.

Ashwin may well have joined Grimmett in reaching the milestone in 36 Tests had the fourth Test against the West Indies last month not been restricted to just 22 overs due to an unsatisfactory outfield in Trinidad.

Ashwin easily eclipsed the Indian record of the fastest to 200 wickets, beating the previous mark of 46 Tests held by fellow off-spinner Harbhajan Singh.

Having claimed four wickets in New Zealand's first innings, all members of the tourists' top seven, Ashwin put the Black Caps on the back foot in their unlikely pursuit of 434 for victory in Kanpur.

He had out-of-form opener Martin Guptill caught in close by Murali Vijay for a duck before trapping Tom Latham in front just four balls later.

And after a long wait, including a close lbw shout and a dropped catch off his bowling, Ashwin trapped NZ skipper Kane Williamson in front for 25 to complete the record.

Ashwin is the sixth-fastest to the 200-wicket milestone in terms of time taken, reaching the mark four years and 324 days since he made his debut on November 6, 2011.

Australian Shane Warne remains the fastest to the 200-wicket mark from his debut, while legendary allrounder Kapil Dev remains the fastest Indian.

It took Grimmett almost 11 years to reach the milestone.

Of Ashwin's 200 Test wickets to date, 133 have come from just 20 Tests on home soil, including 13 five-wicket hauls and three of ten for the match.

FASTEST TO 200 TEST WICKETS (Tests played)

36 Tests - Clarrie Grimmett (Australia)
37 Tests - Ravichandran Ashwin (India)
38 Tests - Dennis Lillee (Australia)
38 Tests - Waqar Younis (Pakistan)
39 Tests - Dale Steyn (South Africa)

FASTEST TO 200 TEST WICKETS (Time from debut)

Shane Warne (Australia) - 3y, 340d (42 Tests)
Graeme Swann (England) - 3y, 348d (48 Tests)
Ian Botham (England) - 4y, 30d (41 Tests)
Kapil Dev (India) - 4y, 146d (50 Tests)
Steve Harmison (England) - 4y, 303d (53 Tests)
Ravichandran Ashwin (India) - 4y, 324d (37 Tests)