Veteran Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has shared a fascinating anecdote from his county cricket stint, recalling how England pacer Jamie Overton used a specially modified shoe with 15 spikes—including one as long as a finger—to intentionally create rough patches on the pitch to assist spinners in the second innings.
“We Don’t Even Have That Concept in India”: Ashwin
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin said,
“One of his shoes had 15 spikes. One of the nails was this long (shows index finger)… These shoes were used to create the rough in the second innings. We don’t even have the concept of such shoes in our country”.
The revelation came in the aftermath of India’s five-wicket loss to England in the first Test at Headingley, where Ravindra Jadeja struggled to extract turn from the surface, finishing with 1/104 in 24 overs. Ashwin suggested that Indian players could learn from such tactical nuances to enhance spin-friendly conditions.
A Subtle Art of Pitch Craft
Creating rough areas—typically outside a left-hander’s leg stump or a right-hander’s off stump—is a long-standing tactic in Test cricket. Fast bowlers’ follow-throughs often scuff up the surface, which spinners exploit later in the match. Overton’s use of extra-long spikes appears to be a deliberate enhancement of this strategy.
Ashwin’s comments have sparked debate about India’s preparedness in overseas conditions, especially in maximizing support for their spinners.
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