Hyderabad Test Tit-Bits
Sports Reporter, Hyderabad
Ashwin fastest to 250
Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin went past legendary Australian fast bowler Dennis Lillee by creating the record of claiming 250 Test wickets in least number of matches in his 45th Test. Lillee had completed the milestone in his 48th Test and Ashwins two wickets in the Bangladesh first innings in the one-off Test here in Hyderabad helped the Indian all-rounder reach the coveted landmark. He is the sixth Indian bowler after Anil Kumble (619), Kapil Dev (434), Harbhajan Singh (417), Zaheer Khan (311), Bishan Singh Bedi (266) to reach to 250 Test wickets. Ashwin has so far taken 57 wickets in the current home season. Till the end of the Bangladesh first innings in his 45th Test, Ashwin has 24 five-wicket hauls and seven 10-wicket hauls so far. He has also scored 1816 runs, including four hundreds.
Mushfiqurs late reaction
The determination with which he was playing, especially after the huge criticism over his captaincy and wicket-keeping, it was well deserved ton for Mushfiqur. In the morning session of the fourth day, he finally got to his century by flicking Umesh Yadavs delivery to fine leg where Ishant Sharma misfielded one to allow the boundary. By this time Mushfiqur needed a boundary to reach the three figure mark but he wasnt quite sure initially when it crossed the boundary rope. So the natural Mushfiqur-celebration wasnt there. When he saw umpire signaling boundary, he burst out wild celebration. In fact he has many issues with India.
Five centuries in five different countries
The 127 runs, scored by Mushfiqur is his fifth and back-to-back Test century after his 159 against New Zealand in Wellington. He is now just behind Tamim Iqbal (8) and Mohammad Ashraful (6) in terms of hitting centuries in Test cricket after eclipsing Shakib (4) and Mominul Haque (4).
First time after Tendulkars retirement
In the team that was bolstered by the batsmen like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Virendar Sehwag, it was common scenario that more often in two ends, batsmen with Test average of 50 was batting together. After the retirement of the likes of Tendulkar, Dravid, only one batsman in the current Indian current with 50 plus average was Cheteshwar Pujara. Before India captain Virat Kohli surpassed the average of 50 during the series against England, Pujara was the only member. So when Pujara and Kohli were batting together during the second innings against Bangladesh, it was the first time after Tendulkars retirement that India got two batsmen in two ends with average of 50 in Test.
Catching woes, fielding lapses continues
Two catches were dropped in Indias second innings that lasted 29 overs and there were several misfields that allowed India milk runs with ease, especially when they were in urgency of scoring runs. Bangladeshs fielding and catching woes which started in New Zealand continued in some style. Shakib Al Hasan dropped a catch of Rahane who was then on 4 and later scored a fluent 28. Mehedi Hasan Miraj put down one simple when Ravindra Jadeja offered a catch at deep mid-wicket. Jadeja was then on 0 and went on to score an unbeaten 10 ball-16. The target in the fourth innings could have been lower should they held onto the catches.
