"Satisfaction of proving yourself" Ravi Ashwin

India's veteran spinner Ashwin ready for Test series against England after success in Australia

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"We are happy to have proved ourselves in the Test series against Australia and we are ready to play in the next four Tests against England," said India's veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.

Under the leadership of Ajinkya Rahane, the 34-year-old Ashwin was instrumental in India's success in the Test series against Australia. Ashwin, in particular, was a bowler who failed on foreign pitches. But Ashwin took 12 wickets in three matches to keep Australia's leading batsmen, Steve Smith and Marnus Labushen, in check. He also contributed to the third Test draw in Sydney by batting. So now Ashwin is looking forward to playing in all four Tests if he is fully fit for the series against England.

"This year's tour of Australia has been a milestone in my life. Because I was less likely to get a place in the team for the first Test. But with Ravindra Jadeja out of the team due to injury, I got a chance. After that I just focused on the basics. Earlier, my performance in the 2018-19 tour was also satisfactory. But I am satisfied that the performance in the current series has somehow proved itself by silencing the critics, "said Ashwin.

Ashwin is hopeful that he will get a chance in all four Tests in the series against England starting on February 5. "The England team is coming to India after a strong performance in Sri Lanka. So the series against them will be challenging. We had beaten England 4-0 in the 2016-17 tour. But more bitter resistance is expected from them this year. "I hope I will not be dropped from the team if I fail in one or the other of the Test series against England as I have proved myself against Australia," he said. Ashwin has taken 377 Test wickets and has a golden opportunity to reach the 400 Test wicket mark in the series against England.

A three-day period for England to practice

LONDON: England will have three days to practice before taking to the field for the first Test against India. The Test series between the two teams will start in Chennai on February 5 and the England players will arrive in India from Sri Lanka on Wednesday, January 27. But as per the bio-safety rules, they have to be isolated for the next six days and they have been allowed to practice from February 2. Also, England players will be tested three times before the start of the series. England all-rounder Ben Stokes, however, arrived in India on Monday. Stokes was rested for the series against Sri Lanka.

World Test final postponed

New Delhi: The final round of the ICC World Test Championship has been postponed for a few days. The final, scheduled for June 10-14, will now be played at Lord's from June 18-22. The 14th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is expected to end by the end of May. The final round has been postponed to allow players time to separate and practice, BCCI sources said. Apart from India, England, Australia and New Zealand are all set to secure a place in the final.

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