IND vs ENG 5th Test Ashwin, Bairstow Set for Milestone 100 in Dharamshala

Veteran Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and star England cricketer Jonny Bairstow marked their 100th Test appearance together when they took the field during the fifth and final Test match between India and England at the picturesque Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamshala.

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Ashwin and Bairstow together made history in Dharamshala

The duo’s entry into the 100th Test club at Dharamsala has placed them among an elite group of cricketers and is only the fourth instance in Test cricket where two players have reached the milestone in the same match. Ashwin became the 14th player to reach the milestone of 100 Tests for India. On the other hand, England’s Jonny Bairstow is the 17th to win this crown. This is the second time in cricket history that two players have achieved the same milestone. The first such event was in 2000 when former England captains Michael Atherton and Alec Stewart reached the landmark against the West Indies at Old Trafford.

The glorious journey of Ravichandran Ashwin

Ashwin made his Test debut in 2011 and has since navigated through the highs and lows of international cricket with remarkable resilience and skill. His journey to this landmark has been punctuated by numerous records and accolades, including becoming the second spinner after Anil Kumble to take more than 500 wickets in Test cricket.

A glimpse of Bairstow’s career

Jonny Bairstow, on the other hand, made his Test debut for England in 2012 and had to earn his stripes in a competitive setup. Despite facing challenges and fluctuations in form, Bairstow’s resurgence under Ben Stokes’ captaincy and Brendon McCullum’s coaching has been nothing short of spectacular. His aggressive batting style revived his career, making him an integral part of England’s Test squad. Bairstow, 34, will become the 17th Englishman to win 100 Test caps in the hill town after making his debut in 2012.

India already leads the ongoing five-match Test series against England by 3-1.