AUS vs IND, 1st Test | R Ashwin defies ‘spin’ odds to weave his best performance in Australia

Visiting spinners have seldom come off with flying colours with the pink ball on Australian soil. Ahead of the Border-Gavaskar series opener on Thursday, visiting spinners have picked a combined 13 wickets in 23 innings at an average of 95.38 and strike rate of 150.6. In Adelaide, the corresponding numbers are six wickets in 14 innings at an average of 119.83 and wicket every 167 deliveries. The numbers lead to a chatter ahead of the opener at the Adelaide Oval that India might head with a four-pace attack. 48 hours later, Ravichandran Ashwin, who however managed to find a spot in the playing XI as the lone spinner, defied odds to weave his best performance in Australia in what is his fourth visit Down Under.