Ravichandran Ashwin became the joint-fastest cricketer to reach 350 international wickets in Test cricket. The 33-year-old, who last played an international game in December 2018, equalled Sri Lanka great Muttiah Muralitharan’s record of taking 350 Test wickets in just 66 matches. Ash‌win dismissed Theunis de Bruynon on the Day 5 of India vs South Africa 1st Test to reach his 350th Test wicket.  Ashwin is also the fastest Indian to reach the feat overtaking Anil Kumble, who had completed the milestone in 77 Test matches. The off-spinner is the fourth Indian cricketer – after Kumble, Harbhajan Singh and Kapil Dev – to take the 350 wickets in Test cricket. India Vs South Africa, Live Cricket Score 1st Test Match. 

Out-of-favour off-spinner Harbhajan Singh took 83 Test matches to take 300 Test matches, while India’s first World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev achieved the feat in 100 Test matches. On his way to equalling Muralitharan’s record, Ashwin also overtook the likes of Richard Hadlee, Dale Steyn, Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne and many other cricketing greats. Hadlee is the second-fastest bowler to complete 350 Test wickets. Did Ravichandran Ashwin Take a Sly Dig at KL Rahul & Hardik Pandya over Koffee With Karan 6 Fiasco?

The New Zealand fast bowler took 69 matches to reach this illustrious feat. Steyn at third also played 69 Test matches to take 350 wickets but had more innings than Hadlee. Australian pace express duo Denis Lille and McGrath complete the top five. Lille took 70 Test matches, while McGrath played four more to reach 350 wickets. England’s fast bowling pair James Anderson (575 wickets) and Stuart Broad (467 wickets) are the only active players, other than Ashwin, to have taken 350 or more Test wickets.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 06, 2019 09:39 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).