Ravichandran Ashwin variations vs South Africa in 1st ODI
Ravichandran Ashwin made his way back to the ODI team after the 2017 Champions Trophy. 2021 was an excellent year for Ashwin, he came into the T20I team after a long time, the year 2022 is already looking very promising. The off-spinner has already grabbed his return to India's T20I side with both hands and now he looks to leave a mark in the ODI side too. All the hard work Ashwin had put in over the last few years in coming up with new variations as a bowler, seems to be paying off.
Ashwin bowled 3 variations in the first ODI against South Africa. He will have off Spinner, Under Cutter and Carrom ball. He bowled with three different grip and seam positions.
For Off spin variation, He bowled with seam position towards leg slip. And similar seam position for Under-Cutter and Carrom ball. First one is conventional off spin. The second one, the seam position is horizontal and the thumb and index fingers are closer than the off spin grip. Third one, the ball is held between the thumb, forefinger and the middle finger.
When the off spin ball is released, the fingers roll down the right side of the ball, giving the ball a clockwise spin as seen from behind. Under cutter delivery with the seam horizontal, that skids on towards the batsmen and the ball a clockwise spin. Carom ball, instead of a conventional release, the ball is squeezed out and flicked by the fingers.
First ball revolutions in a clockwise direction, Second ball revolutions from left to right direction and Third ball revolutions from right to left direction.
In the First ODI, Ashwin dismissed Quinton Dekock in the 16th over off the first ball. Ashwin bowled full length balls and he pulled his length back with a flat trajectory. He bowled a few balls with more air at low speed. And the wicket taking ball is an undercutter and the ball skids after pitching. Dekock missed it completely.