'My Poor Motor Skills...': Ravichandran Ashwin's Response to Alastair Cook's 'Deliberate' Ploy Claim

Ravichandran Ashwin has withdrawn from the 3rd Test. (BCCI Photo)

England batting legend Alastair Cook has claimed that Ravichandran Ashwin was deliberately trying to change the pitch condition when he was warned for running in the middle of it by the on-field umpire on Day 2 of the third Test against England Rajkot.

India were already on their final warning with Ravindra Jadeja being cautioned too on the opening day of the Test. Consequently, the hosts were penalised and extra five runs were added to England’s first innings total.

Cook, while on air for TNT Sports, said, “Is it deliberate (from Ashwin)? Yes, it is. It’s a tactical ploy that you can disturb the middle of the wicket because Ashwin wanted as much help (as possible) when he bowls. That was gamesmanship there, wasn’t it?”

Ashwin later addressed the incident quipping his ‘poor motor skills’ didn’t allow him to get off the danger area on time, denying it was done on purpose.

“They (umpires) clearly warned some of our batters (on Thursday) for running on the pitch. I was aware of it, but my poor motor skills didn’t allow me to get off the pitch in time. If the English media and players think it was on purpose, it wasn’t,” Ashwin said on Friday.

“If that’s how they want to treat it, so be it. I went to (on-field umpires) Joel (Wilson) and Kumar (Dharmasena) and said ‘that’s pure poor motor skills’. If I was any better, I would have been in the Olympics. Why play cricket?” Ashwin said.

Ashwin reached the milestone of 500 wickets in Test cricket on Friday when he dismissed England opener Zak Crawley on 15. He thus became the second Indian after Anil Kumble, 9th overall, to achieve the feat.

Late on Friday night, BCCI informed that the star offspinner has withdrawn from the contest due to a family emergency.

It’s not known yet if Ashwin will return to play any role in the 3rd Test.