County Championship: R. Ashwin will play for Surrey against Somerset before the tests in England
India striker Ravichandran Ashwin is ready to play for Surrey in the County Championship match against Somerset at the Oval Hall in London on Sunday, July 11. Ashwin has previously played for Nottinghamshire and Worcestershire. He will join Hashim Amla as Surrey’s second overseas player in their final Group 2 match.
R Ashwin has been in England along with the rest of India’s Test squad after the World Test Championship final last month. Ashwin was vacationing with his family and even caught up with Wimbledon action from the All England Club earlier this week.
R Ashwin will play only one match for Surrey as he will join the rest of the Indian squad, who were given a 20-day break, to gear up for the 4-Test series against England, starting August 4. Ashwin has been named in Surrey’s 13-man squad for the fixture.
“I am so privileged to be having the badge on. I have heard and wondered what the London counties are all about. Even though it’s only for a game, I am delighted to share this dressing room,” Ashwin said in a video shared by Surrey.
Australia pacer Sean Abbott was originally expected to be Surrey’s second overseas player in this fixture, alongside Hashim Amla, but a hamstring injury sustained during the match against Gloucestershire ended his time at the Oval early, Surrey said in a statement.
Abbott was replaced by New Zealand’s Kyle Jamieson, who suffered a glute injury on the first day of Surrey’s match with Hampshire last week and will play no further part on the field.
“Once the extent of Jamieson’s injury was understood, Director of Cricket Alec Stewart began the process of recruiting Ashwin for this fixture. At that stage, two victories in Surrey’s final two group matches would have seen them into Division One. While the draw with Hampshire now makes finishing in the top two very difficult, both the Club and Ashwin have agreed to this one-off arrangement,” it added.
Ashwin has been in fine form in red-ball cricket of India ever since he led India’s bowling attack in their memorable series win in Australia. The off-spinner picked up 4 wickets in the World Test Championship final which India lost by 8 wickets to New Zealand.
Surrey’s 13-man squad vs Somerset: Rory Burns (Captain), Hashim Amla, R Ashwin, Jordan Clark, Rikki Clarke, Ben Geddes, Conor McKerr, Daniel Moriarty, Jamie Overton, Ryan Patel, Jamie Smith, Mark Stoneman, Amar Virdi.
