Brett Lee on Ravichandran Ashwin Retirement: Soon after the third Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test was drawn in Brisbane on Wednesday, Ashwin announced his decision to retire from international cricket with immediate effect in the post-match press conference. Australia’s great fast bowler Brett Lee said that he was surprised by the announcement of Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin’s retirement from international cricket after the drawn Test in Brisbane. He said that Ashwin will be known as one of the great players of the game. His last international match was the Day-Night Test in Adelaide, where he took 1 wicket for 53 runs in 18 overs. “This guy is one of the greats of the game. I think the last time a spinner retired in the middle of a series was Graeme Swann.”
Former Australian keeper Brad Haddin (Brad Haddin on Ravichandran Ashwin Retirement) said that Ashwin has earned the right to end his 14-year international career for India. “When Ashwin gets a chance to speak, more things will come to light; Reading between the lines, it seemed that he might be a little disappointed with the changes made to the spinning options in the first three Test matches. To me, he was a student of the game (and) was always looking for ways to get better. He has earned this right.”
Coming from Chennai, Ashwin ended his career with 537 wickets in 106 Test matches at an average of 24 and was India’s second highest wicket taker after legendary leg spinner Anil Kumble. He also scored six Test centuries and 14 half-centuries with the bat. His last international match was the day-night Test in Adelaide, in which he took 1-53.
Ashwin also played 116 ODI matches for India, in which he took 156 wickets and was a member of the teams that won the 2011 ODI World Cup and 2013 Champions Trophy. Ashwin also played 65 T20 matches and took 72 wickets.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan (Michael Vaughan on Ravichandran Ashwin Retirement) said that he will miss watching Ashwin bowling. “He might have been told that he wouldn’t play any further in this series, and rightly so, he just decided to play on his own terms. I missed his bowling, his flight, the carrom ball, his ability to bowl in every situation. Will miss. When you are facing players of that quality in India, the batsman has no chance.”
Australian captain Pat Cummins (Pat Cummins on Ravichandran Ashwin Retirement) also praised Ashwin after the end of the match. “It’s a bit surprising, he’s been a champion player for them. One of the greatest players to play a lot in the last 10-plus years. He’s had a fantastic career and there’s a lot of respect for his career in our change room.”
