Ravichandran Ashwin to play for Worcestershire against Gloucestershire

Team India’s ace spinner Ravichandran Ashwin is all set for his county stint, as he joined Worcestershire for the remainder of the County championship games. He received the ‘No objection certificate’ from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and carried his visa on Friday evening. The spinner has been roped in to replace the injured John Hastings as the County’s overseas player for the remaining four games of the Championship.

Ashwin set for his debut

Ashwin will make his county debut in Monday’s home clash with Gloucestershire and becomes the third international spinner to tie up with Worcestershire this summer after Nathan Lyon (Australia) and Mitchell Santner (New Zealand). Skipper Joe Leach is eager to complete the county championship hat-trick and he will be happy to have someone of Ashwin’s calibre in the side. Leach just needs three more wickets to complete the pack of 50 wickets for the third successive season.

Rhodes cherished the tie-up

Director of cricket Steve Rhodes is delighted at the latest development of Ashwin tying up with Worcestershire. He rates the Indian very highly and hoped that he doesn’t have to shoulder too much pressure. Rhodes spoke to the media and said: “He is such a terrific international bowler. We are very lucky to get him and I only hope people don’t put too much pressure on the guy. He is only human. But he is a wonderful all-rounder, someone who gets hundreds in Test cricket batting at number six, and we are very pleased he has chosen to come to Worcestershire. We are delighted to have someone of his skills and stature in the game playing for us in this crucial last four games,” he added.

“The plan is for him to get a day or two for practice and get to know the lads and get over a bit of jet lag and then be up and running for Monday.” Rhodes admitted: “You could easily not sign someone for this period and go with what we’ve got.“But we are second in the table and desperately want to be in that top two.”