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The India quick bowler on how MS Dhoni motivated him before the hat-trick ball against Afghanistan

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Jun-2019As Mohammed Shami ran in to deliver the hat-trick ball in the final over against Afghanistan, he had MS Dhoni’s words in mind. Afghanistan had begun that over needing 16 with three wickets in hand, and were now nine down, needing 12. Only one Indian – Chetan Sharma – had taken a World Cup hat-trick earlier, in 1987. This was Shami’s chance to join an elite club. And he did it by nailing a perfect yorker on the base of leg stump. Mujeeb Ur Rahman backed away and swung blindly, only to miss it, and saw the stumps flattened.”The fewer you have to defend, the more issues you face in executing, but knowing I had Jasprit Bumrah bowling [the 49th over] from the other end was good,” Shami said soon after the match. “The hat-trick feels very special, that too getting it in a World Cup is a big deal. Before I bowled the last ball, I had MS Dhoni’s advice in my mind. He told me, ‘World Cup hat-tricks are rare, just bowl a yorker. This is your chance.’ That’s what I did.”WATCH on Hotstar (India only) – Fall of wicketsIt was a moment Shami may have not envisaged a year ago. In June 2018, his central contract was withheld amid allegations of domestic violence by his wife. Then, there was a battle with his own body owing to niggles, even in the aftermath of an ankle surgery that saw him spend nearly a year on the sidelines.When he finally regained fitness, he had put on a few kilos and even failed the mandatory yo-yo test. His pace dropped and he wasn’t on the selectors’ radar as far as one-day selection was concerned. There were question marks over his immediate future.Shami hit the gym and focused on his diet in an effort to reduce weight. Gradually over time, the selectors brought him back into the mix for the ODIs against West Indies at home in October. Since then, there has been no looking back.In March this year, Shami’s improved fitness and work ethic even had Kohli awe-struck. “The way Shami has come back into the white-ball set-up after his Test performances, have never seen him so lean before. He has lost five-six kilos. He’s running in and bowling so well,” he said at the time. “He’s hungry for wickets.”Looking back, Shami reflected on his improved diet as a big factor in his bowling rejuvenation. “This journey towards fitness has taken me two years,” he said on Sunday after taking the hat-trick. “I was heavy after the injury, I used to feel tightness in my knee after long spells, so I knew I had to do something extra if I had to play for a longer time.”I have cut down on my food, I follow a diet and people laugh about it when I tell them that. It’s not strict but I avoid stuff doctors tell me to. I don’t eat sweets or bread, it has helped me a lot.”Getty Images

On Saturday, his four-wicket haul and his bowling partnership with Bumrah was pivotal in India’s 11-run win over Afghanistan that helped them remain unbeaten in the competition.”I had 16 to defend thanks to your efforts,” he told interviewer Bumrah in a chat on “I knew it gave me a chance to do something. It was also after a long time that we were bowling in tandem.”The start of Shami’s final over seemed nervy as Mohammad Nabi clubbed him to the long-on boundary. Then with 12 to defend off five balls, he first had half-centurion Nabi, whose innings he described as “irritating”, hole out to long-on before nailing two perfect yorkers to get rid of Aftab Alam and Mujeeb to seal victory.”I felt the irritation when Nabi was batting, but we knew if we got him out, the match was ours,” Shami said. “He was the only one capable [of winning it in the final over]. We didn’t want to show our weakness in the face of his irritation. We just wanted to be aggressive and show intent.”Shami later revealed that bowling short to Afghanistan in the middle-overs had been part of India’s plan, one that fetched them the key wickets of Rahmat Shah and Hashmatullah Shahidi, who fell to Bumrah. “It was a much better wicket in the first innings compared to the second,” he observed. “The plan was to not bowl too full. They were a little doubtful with the bouncers, so the plan was to mix up our lengths with bouncers.”

Nottinghamshire batsman apologised to county team-mates after 21-day recreational drugs ban

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Jul-2019Alex Hales has said he wants to put the “mistakes of the past” behind him, and issued an apology to his Nottinghamshire team-mates following his 21-day ban for recreational drug use.Hales was deselected from England’s World Cup squad as a result of the ban, with captain Eoin Morgan citing a “complete breakdown of trust” for his omission from the final 15-man squad.But speaking as part of Nottinghamshire’s video preview for their upcoming T20 campaign, Hales revealed that he had apologised to his county team-mates and admitted that he had let them down.”As soon as I walked back into the changing room, around the guys, I couldn’t have asked for more,” he said. “Everyone has been unbelievable. I just wanted to apologise to them, for everything that happened.”I got the point across that I had not just let myself down, I’d let down family, friends, team-mates – so I had to get that off my chest, I had to tell the guys how I was feeling.”I wanted to let them know I was 100 percent focused on the cricket now, [that] I wanted to move forward and put those mistakes of the past behind me.”Nottinghamshire have stuck by Hales publicly throughout the incident.After the news broke, the club issued a statement which said it was “in the best interests of all concerned for him to get back to playing cricket for Nottinghamshire as quickly as possible”, despite his actions falling “way short of the behaviours the club expects from any of its staff”.At the Caribbean Premier League draft in May, Hales twice declined to comment when asked about his deselection, and his only public comment had been via a statement from his management company which said that he was “devastated”.But Hales did admit he had his sights set on an England recall in time for the T20 World Cup in Australia in 2020, and has retained his central contract which runs until the end of the summer.”It’s how it has to be, to be honest,” he said. “I can’t change what’s happened – all I can affect is what’s going to happen. I’m just trying to look at it in as much of a positive way as I can, just have to crack on and try to make the most of hopefully a few more years in my career.”They [Notts] asked me if I was ready to play, and I just couldn’t wait to get back out there to be honest, that’s all I want to do, is play cricket.”Hales was picked for Nottinghamshire’s final group game and their semi-final defeat in the Royal London Cup, scoring 36 and 54, and will open the batting in their Vitality Blast campaign which starts next Thursday.Nottinghamshire’s progress in that competition – and they are favourites with the bookies to regain the crown they won in 2017 – will determine Hales’ participation in the CPL, where Barbados Tridents chose him with the first pick of the draft.Following that, he has expressed interest in playing in the Big Bash, and has a year to run on his contract with Rangpur Riders in the Bangladesh Premier League, though will hope to be involved in some of England’s white-ball internationals this winter (3 ODIs and 3 T20Is in South Africa, and 5 T20Is in New Zealand).

Captain pushed himself up order for good of the team balance

George Dobell at Edgbaston31-Jul-2019Joe Root has insisted it was his decision to move back to No. 3 in the England line-up and hopes the change proves his determination to take tough decisions for the benefit of the team.England’s top-order has struggled for several years and, going into the Ashes, it appeared they may field a top three with just 11 caps – and no centuries – between them.But while Root has previously made no secret of his preference to bat at No. 4, it became apparent earlier this week that he was going to move up the order in an attempt to add some experience in the top three. And while that could have been interpreted as Root bowing to the views of others in the team management – Trevor Bayliss, the coach, and Ed Smith, the head selector, have believed for some time that he should bat at No. 3 – he says it was a decision he came to independently during the Test against Ireland.”It was completely my decision,” Root said. “I came to the final decision in the Ireland match. It’s something I’ve been thinking about for a long time. It’s an opportunity for me to get in there earlier to spread out the experience.”I’ve always thought the best thing for the team is for me to score runs. And for a long time my record at No.4 would suggest that would be the best thing. But, where we are as a team currently and where I’m at as a captain, I’m a good enough player to be able to make the same returns at No.3.”There are a number of different ways you can lead. This is just another opportunity to take my leadership forward and sort of show the rest of the group that it is something I’m more than prepared to do. I’m not expecting anyone to do something that I wouldn’t.”Joe Root prepares for English’s final pre-Ashes training session•Getty Images

Root has batted at No. 3 previously. He spent much of 2016 – before he was captain – in the role, though it was noticeable that he reverted to No. 4 as soon as he took on the leadership. And while he returned to No. 3 during the English summer of 2018, he struggled for runs (he averaged 29.22 in the Test against India and Pakistan that summer when he batted at No. 3) and moved back to No.4 during the final Test. In all, he averages 40.47 in 40 innings with two centuries and 10 half-centuries in the position. He averages 48.00 in 60 innings with seven centuries and 19 half-centuries at No. 4.He hopes, however, that his growing experience of captaincy has helped him compartmentalise the differing demands upon him and allow him to enjoy as much success a little further up the order.”Having captained this side for a while, I feel I can get my head around juggling leading on the field and batting,” Root said. “Hopefully we’ll see that in my batting and this can be a series where I stamp my authority in the role and make it my own. I’m excited to take on that challenge.”Root admits, however, that this could be a series dominated by bowlers. He knows that England’s decision to utilise a brand of Dukes ball with a particularly prominent seam may result in lower scores and accepts that his side may have to adapt to that reality. But he believes they must also stick to their natural games and has urged Jason Roy to continue to take the attack to the bowlers.”We understand that, especially in England, it can be very difficult at the top of the order,” Root said. “It’s how you react to that: are we skilful and smart enough to make big scores? We have exploited bowler-friendly conditions over the past few years and found ways of winning matches in England. We have a good record here. It is set up nicely to be a juicy contest.”So there is a lot of talk about bowlers, but with that comes the opportunity for batters to prove a point. You have to play to your strengths and Jason has been picked to play in his own manner at the top of the order. It’s very exciting that we have gone that way. It gives us something slightly different. He has the opportunity to put pressure on the opposition at the top of the order.”We have gone about things in a certain way for a long time and this is an opportunity to try something different. We feel like he is a high-quality international player. He has a point to prove in Test cricket, but he has a very good game on him. I’m very excited to see that unfold.”

Counties may have to be compensated for covering white-ball payments before new contracts begin in February

George Dobell09-Aug-2019The ECB is considering postponing the start date of some England player central contracts, though it has denied that is because it is facing cash-flow difficulties.In the past, central contracts have run from the start of October to the end of September to reflect the English season. While the next contracts will be announced, as usual, in late September, ESPNcricinfo understands that England players on white-ball deals will have to wait until February 1, 2020 for their new contracts to begin. As a consequence, the terms of the current white-ball central contracts will be carried over for an extra four months, with the players’ counties footing the bill for that time.The ECB has said this is to move the contracts in line with its own financial year, which begins in February, a shift that will also take place with its Test contracts. England’s only white-ball cricket between now and February 1 is five T20Is in New Zealand in November.The ECB also pointed out that the manner in which white-ball contracts are paid will change, with players no longer receiving incremental payments on top of their county deal, but having their entire salary paid by the ECB – until now white-ball contracts have been paid as increments by the ECB on top of the players’ county contracts. If counties are required to supplement their players’ wages during the four-month hiatus, they will be recompensed by the ECB in February.But some in the game have suggested the move is designed to buy the board time as it battles with cash-flow issues. They point out that expenditure and costs associated with setting up The Hundred have bitten deep into the ECB’s resources. It has previously been reported that those set-up costs have more than trebled from an initial expectation of £13m a year to somewhere around £40m.As recently as 2016 the ECB declared reserves of £73.1m in its annual report, but that figure was down to £11.24m in the latest set of accounts.The value of white-ball contracts is understood to have increased by £100,000 a player a year, to £275,000, while red-ball contracts have increased in value by £175,000 a year to £650,000. The next tranche of money from the latest broadcast deal hits the ECB accounts in February.A spokesperson for the Professional Cricketers’ Association told ESPNcricinfo that talks were continuing.

Knight Riders finished their first week of the season with three wins in three matches

The Report Sreshth Shah08-Sep-2019Trinbago Knight Riders cruised to their third straight win in CPL 2019, as their experienced quartet of Lendl Simmons, Denesh Ramdin, Sunil Narine and captain Kieron Pollard set up a comfortable seven-wicket win over St Lucia Zouks on Sunday.Riding on the support of a packed home stadium, Knight Riders overcame an above-par first-innings total of 167 to finish the first week of the season at the top of the points table.In the first innings, Narine’s four-over spell of only 23 runs ensured Zouks didn’t post a higher total, after which Simmons and Ramdin struck smart half-centuries to always keep Knight Riders within touching distance of the required run-rate. And when Simmons fell for his 39-ball 63, Pollard brought up the rear with an unbeaten 26 to bring victory in the 18th over.For Daren Sammy’s Zouks, it’s now two losses in a row. With their next match four days away, Zouks could find themselves in bottom place before they take on Jamaica Tallawahs on September 13.Simmons’ super showChasing 168, Knight Riders had a blazing start on the back of a 29-run first-wicket stand between Narine and Simmons inside three overs. But once Narine fell, Sammy introduced three spinners in a bid to negate Simmons’ threat. There were murmurs that Simmons struggles against spin, but he used his feet well against offspinner Rahkeem Cornwall and legspinner Fawad Ahmed to keep moving at a brisk pace. Fawad, who was CPL 2018’s highest wicket-taker, was brave to flight the ball, but Simmons stayed committed to his shot making, and deposited two sixes over long-on off the bowler. For Fawad, it was a bitter reunion with his former team. He conceded more than 13 per over in his three-over spell.Simmons’ shots went in all directions. He swept them for six, found tiny gaps behind point off left-arm spinner Kavern Hodge for four and even drilled boundaries through cover. One particular slap through the off-side brought up his 44th T20 fifty in the ninth over. Simmons finally fell in the 12th over to Hodge, stepping out to a very wide delivery, stumped by the fast hands of Andre Fletcher. By then, though, the required run-rate was under 7.50.Ramdin, Pollard show their experienceThe No. 4 Ramdin enjoyed much of Simmons’ hitting from the other end. He had entered the Knight Riders chase in the fifth over with the team in a spot of bother at 34 for 2. But he kept the scoreboard moving, settling in and letting Simmons enjoy the strike.Ramdin’s first release shot came in the 11th over when he drove Fawad inside-out through the covers. He followed it up with a slog sweep next ball for six, and that set the momentum for his innings even after Simmons’ dismissal next over. The No. 5 Pollard took over Ramdin’s role once he came in, and the latter then turned aggressor. He carved Thisara Perera over point in the 15th over to bring the equation down to six per over, and then struck a hat-trick of fours off Kesrick Williams in the 17th to bring the target down to single digits. That broke Zouks’ back, and Knight Riders crossed the line five balls later.Zouks fail to maximise with the batPinch-hitting opener Cornwall had bruised Knight Riders early on with a 12-ball 33, which helped Zouks reach 51 after six overs. But they could’ve had more if his opening partner Andre Fletcher didn’t struggle as much. Against Narine, Fletcher failed to rotate the strike and got bogged down in the Powerplay. Fletcher’s laboured innings of 26 off 32 balls ended in the tenth over when holed out to long on.John Campbell – playing his first CPL game – and No. 4 Najibullah Zadran then looked to up the scoring-rate but it wasn’t easy against the offcutters that James Neesham and Pollard were bowling. And while Zadran did mesmerise with a six and two fours off Narine in the 15th over, he made just 26. Campbell went on at a run-a-ball, and when he eventually fell in the 20th over, his 42-ball stay had earned only 43 runs. That Zouks posted 167 at the end was due to some big hitting from Sammy off the young Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Hasnain at the back end of the first innings.

The part-time offspinner had been reported during the second Test against India in Kingston

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Oct-2019West Indies’ Kraigg Brathwaite, an occasional offspinner whose bowling action has been questioned more than once, has been cleared to bowl in international cricket again following an ICC-approved assessment.Brathwaite had been reported after the second Test between West Indies and India in Kingston earlier this year, with the ICC saying in a statement at the time that the match officials’ report had “cited concerns about the legality of the 26-year-old’s bowling action during the course of the match”.He subsequently underwent a bowling assessment in the ICC-accredited facility in Loughborough on September 14, where, the ICC said in a statement on Tuesday, “it was revealed that the amount of elbow extension for all his deliveries was within the 15-degree level of tolerance permitted under the ICC Illegal Bowling Regulations”.Brathwaite had earlier been reported for a suspect bowling action in August 2017 following the first Test of West Indies’ tour of England, played at Edgbaston. Then, too, he was tested in Loughborough, and he was subsequently cleared to continue bowling at the highest level.In the West Indies Test side mainly as an opening batsman, Brathwaite has 18 wickets from 58 games at an average of 56.94.

Wade keeps Tasmania chugging along with well-crafted 44 not out amid wickets

ESPNcricinfo staff31-Oct-2019Victoria’s first day without Andrew McDonald didn’t go according to the outgoing coach’s plan, as they were rolled for a mere 127 after being sent in by Tasmania’s captain Matthew Wade on a green-tinged Hobart pitch.Riley Meredith’s considerable speed was crucial in removing the captain Peter Handscomb and the Test aspirant Will Pucovski early on, allowing Jackson Bird, Gabe Bell and Alex Pyecroft to take full advantage.While Meredith went for 53 from seven overs, his early incisions will interest the national selectors, not least for how Pucpvski was successfully targeted with the short ball and compelled to deflect to short leg a delivery that he failed to get over the top of.Bird, Bell and Pyecroft prospered through more conventional means for swing and seam bowlers at Bellerive Oval, though Matt Short looked unhappy to be given out to a low catch behind by Jake Doran off Bird, seeming to suggest the ball had bounced before reaching the ‘keeper’s gloves.Nic Maddinson was again a stand out for Victoria, scuttling along to 68 from just 69 balls as wickets fell around him. Wade, who is all set to retain the batting place he won in the Test side on the Ashes tour, was the backbone of the Tasmanian reply, fighting his way to an unbeaten 44 with help from the recalled George Bailey.Victoria’s pacemen all delivered typically exacting spells alongside Jon Holland’s spin bowling, but a pivotal rush of wickets before the close was elusive, allowing Wade and Doran to reset on the second morning.

Only 32 deliveries were possible at Rawalpindi as the draw became increasingly likely

The Report by Andrew Fidel Fernando13-Dec-2019Thirty-two deliveries. That’s all the cricket Rawalpindi saw on yet another frustrating, weather-affected day. Overnight rain and a delay in removing the covers wiped out the entire first session of play – the one-hour lunch break for Friday prayers unfortunately falling during exactly the brightest, most cricket-conducive period of the day. Play did eventually begin at 1.10pm, but went on for only 26 minutes, before the umpires deemed the light too poor for cricket to continue.In the 5.2 overs that were played, Dhananjaya de Silva stroked two confident boundaries – a checked drive through cover off Shaheen Afridi, and a pull through midwicket off Naseem Shah – and moved to 87, having begun the day on 72.On 81 he was very nearly dismissed, when he under-edged a short-of-a-length delivery from Naseem, and the ball almost deflected into leg stump. Aside from that one scare, however, he appeared comfortable at the crease for the third day in a row, rarely missing out on scoring opportunities, though both Shaheen and Naseem were getting both seam movement and carry out of the pitch.Dilruwan Perera was far tetchier, having been beaten repeatedly though he faced only 12 deliveries in the day. Sri Lanka, though, did not lose a wicket and inched ahead to 282 for 6.A result in this Test seems extremely unlikely now. You’d think it would require at least two dramatic batting collapses in the three full innings that are remaining – though if there are two teams that can collectively produce such batting catastrophes, they are Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Starc had appeared set to join Hazlewood in a move that would have granted the club arguably the world’s best white-ball bowler, drastically altering calculations for every other team

Daniel Brettig11-Dec-2019Recruiting regulations and the possibility of a Big Bash League marquee player draft will be reviewed by Cricket Australia after a hectic last week of negotiations almost saw Mitchell Starc join Josh Hazlewood in what would have been a near tournament-winning play by the Sydney Sixers.While Hazlewood was signed by the Sixers at the very end of the contracting period on Friday, Starc had appeared set to join him in a move that would have granted the Sydney club arguably the world’s best white-ball bowler for the pointy end of the tournament, drastically altering calculations for every other team.CA were understandably eager to get every possible high profile player involved in the tournament and were disappointed that Starc ultimately did not join in time to meet the contracting deadline. The absence of Pat Cummins from the Sydney Thunder list, which left the club with a final list of 17 players rather than the maximum 18, was also a blow.However rival clubs were less than enchanted by the fact that the Sixers were able to add Hazlewood and potentially Starc to what was already a full list by simply paying out the contracts of two lower profile players. The seam bowler Henry Thornton lost his place on the Sixers list but will have his contract paid out, with the possibility that he can earn more money by returning as an injury replacement later in the tournament.This is not to say the Sixers were themselves happy with the scenario. The club’s general manager Jodie Hawkins was required to disclose and explain the Sixers’ plans to recruit Hazlewood and Starc on a conference call with officials from all clubs last week. Senior figures contacted by ESPNcricinfo at three BBL clubs agreed that while all wanted the best players involved in the competition, the process by which this took place needed some serious work.”The BBL has always been known for constantly innovating,” CA’s head of the BBL Alistair Dobson told ESPNcricinfo. “We’ll review list and contracting rules to make sure they work as best they can for the competition and a big priority is making sure the best overseas and Australian players can play. To work with our clubs closely on what might need to be adjusted to make sure that happens is one of our key priorities at the end of each season.”This year, the way the fixture was able to be built and condensed has made both international and local windows better. We’ve changed some of the overseas replacement player rules to make it easier for clubs to bring international replacement players in and out of the competition, and that’s shown in some of the players who’ve been able to find their way into the BBL this season.Josh Hazlewood is set to play in the BBL for the first time in six seasons•Getty Images

“It’s relatively clear communication between the leagues and clubs as players are put on lists, we make sure clubs are given the information in a timely fashion, at the same time making sure clubs have got the opportunity to then negotiate with players and get the contracts done as required. Everything’s quite transparent and well communicated with clubs.”There is a considerable advantage for the Sydney BBL clubs in the fact that, should they deign to take part in some or all of the BBL, the nation’s leading pace bowlers Starc, Hazlewood and Cummins are all based there. Other imbalances in the competition that have been sore points in the past have included complaints from the two-club Sydney and Melbourne markets about the ability of clubs in Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane and Hobart to better balance their state and BBL contract lists in order to retain players.”We work closely with all our clubs on their different list builds and stay in touch with them on how those lists are coming together,” Dobson said. “From our point of view, it’s great for us to have as many Australian players, particularly high profile ones, playing in the Big Bash as possible, not only out of the Test team but even this year the way we’ve been able to build the fixture to make it a better opportunity for some other big name Australian players to play more BBL.”It’s been a really big priority, we’re really excited about how that’s progressed. As you come towards the end of a contracting period there’s always a flurry of activity, the Sixers have got great relationships with those players and they’re really keen to be part of the season and we’re really excited the Sixers were able to get it done.”The other major recruiting issue for the BBL remains the broad spectrum of contract value available in different T20 leagues around the world, particularly the Bangladesh and Pakistan leagues that clash with the Australian tournament and can offer far more money for a lot less game time. The recruitment of players like AB de Villiers to the Brisbane Heat requires far more than what can simply be offered within each club’s cap, resulting in a rash of third-party deals that have the ring of an exhibition tournament rather than a fully-fledged league.”We work with all our clubs constantly on how we make sure they can build and recruit players in the best interests of the competition,” Dobson said. “From time to time we work with them on the best way to do that, and that might mean the league supporting that in different ways.”I think from our perspective we’re reviewing each year the salary cap and the ability for clubs to recruit the players they need to put on the best possible competition. But at the same time we’re mindful that our selling proposition to players extends to the best stadiums, the biggest crowds, the best-run competition, the most exciting cricket.”So while being competitive in the market from a salary point of view is important, we’re also mindful of ensuring the other things around the offering to players are as good as they can be, and the BBL is showing over time it delivers on those. That said the competitive landscape is constantly shifting and we need to make sure we’re on top of it.”

India offspinner set to play at least eight Championship matches after IPL

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Jan-2020R Ashwin will join Yorkshire for most of this year’s County Championship season. The club said 33-year-old Ashwin would become their “frontline overseas spinner” playing at least eight Championship matches once his IPL commitments with Delhi Capitals end and following a seven-day break immediately afterwards, requested by the BCCI.He will come in for South Africa spinner Keshav Maharaj, who enjoyed a successful stint with Yorkshire in 2019 – taking 38 wickets in five matches and scoring two half-centuries – and who will re-join the club for the first two fixtures of this year’s season in April, at home to Gloucestershire and away to Essex.India’s fourth-highest wicket-taker, Ashwin is a veteran of 70 Tests which have netted him 362 wickets at an average of 25.36 and he recently claimed his 27th five-wicket haul in Test cricket.Ashwin’s latest county stint follows five matches with Nottinghamshire in 2019, when he claimed 34 wickets at 24.58 and scored 339 runs at 37.66. During that time he claimed four five-wicket hauls and 12 wickets for the match in a losing cause against Surrey. Ashwin also played four matches with Worcestershire in 2017 when his 20 wickets while averaging 42.50 with the bat contributed to their promotion to Division One. He was due to re-join Worcestershire for the last two matches of the 2018 season as they attempted to avoid relegation but withdrew after aggravating a groin injury during India’s fourth Test against England which ruled him out of the remainder of that series.In joining Yorkshire, he said he was happy to be “following in the footsteps” of Sachin Tendulkar who, at the age of 19 in 1992, became the county’s first-ever overseas player.”I’m thrilled to be joining Yorkshire, a club with a wonderful history and a fantastic fan base,” Ashwin said. “I think our team looks extremely talented with some superb pace bowlers and exciting batsmen. Hopefully my role as the spinner will be a key feature in helping the team achieve success.”Headingley has always been a fantastic venue to play at. People speak about the overhead conditions playing a big part so let’s hope for plenty of sun. I love playing first-class cricket and have enjoyed my two previous spells with Worcestershire and Nottinghamshire. My role will be to score runs and take wickets but it will be a collective effort if we are to win the title.”I’m a deep thinker about the game and bowling in particular and will be researching my opponents carefully to ensure I have the edge. To follow in the footsteps of Sachin, who played for the county many years ago is a wonderful feeling for me.”Yorkshire coach Andrew Gale said that after years of budgetary constraints, the county had managed to blood young players and could now fill in the “voids” with signings such as Dawid Malan, lured from Middlesex, Nicholas Pooran for their T20 campaign and Ashwin, who would also act as a mentor and coach to his young spinners during the English domestic 50-over competition.”Ashwin is available for the rest of the season after the IPL” Gale said. “Short-term signings haven’t worked, we want someone who can come in for a longer period of time who can make an influence.”With Kesh [Maharaj] doing so well last year, it shows the importance of having a spinner who can attack and defend. He can contribute with the bat as well. Ashwin ticks every box, he did well for Notts in a team that was underachieving with both bat and ball. To get a guy of his experience in and around the group will be great for us.”