Cricket world stunned by Ravi Ashwin withdrawal after 'forbidden' drama in third Test

Cricket fans are rallying around Indian spinner Ravi Ashwin after he withdrew from the third Test against England due to a family medical emergency. On Friday, Ashwin became just the ninth bowler and second Indian after Anil Kumble to take 500 wickets in Test cricket when he dismissed Zak Crawley in the final session of the second day.

But the Board of Cricket for Control in India announced just a few hours after the close of play that Ashwin had immediately pulled out of the match. "In these challenging times, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the team fully supports Ashwin," said BCCI secretary Jay Shah in a statement.

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"The BCCI extends its heartfelt support to the champion cricketer and his family. The health and well-being of the players and their loved ones are of utmost importance. The board requests respect for the privacy of Ashwin and his family as they navigate through this challenging time."

BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla later revealed that Ashwin's mother isn't doing well. "Wishing speedy recovery of mother of Ravi Ashwin," he tweeted. "He has to rush and leave Rajkot test to Chennai to be with his mother."

India are already without Virat Kohli for the entire series, and it seems unlikely they'd be allowed to replace Ashwin in the middle of a Test. MCC rules state that a player can be replaced at any point during a match with "the consent of the opposing captain".

However the rules for the World Test Championship are more ambiguous, and suggest a change of player can only occur after the toss, when the teams have been named, but before play has gotten under way. Players can only be replaced during play if they suffer a concussion.

England handed five penalty runs over 'forbidden' Ravi Ashwin act

Ashwin's withdrawal came after a dramatic and controversial day in which he conceded five penalty runs for running down the middle of the pitch. England had five runs added onto their total before they even faced a ball after umpire Joel Wilson deemed that Ashwin had encroached onto the protected area in the centre of the wicket.

Because Ravindra Jadeja had already been warned about the same thing, Ashwin's indiscretion resulted in England being given five penalty runs. "He did run straight down the pitch," former England spinner Graeme Swann said in commentary as Ashwin argued with Wilson. “You’re not allowed down the middle of the pitch – and I’m sorry Mr Ashwin, you’re caught bang to right there.”

Sanjay Manjrekar said: “Wow. Now the second time I’ve seen this happen. We told you last time yesterday when Jadeja ran down the pitch that that was the final warning. So with that gesture and signal from the umpire, we can confirm that its five penalty runs.”

Kumble added: “The umpires have that area to themselves. You can’t go there, it’s forbidden. There were warnings yesterday … But he (Ashwin) probably didn’t realise there were already warnings, so that might be one of the reasons why he had a chat with the umpire.”

India made 445 in their first innings, before England opener Ben Duckett smashed an 88-ball century to lead the tourists' fightback. Duckett went to stumps on 133 not out off 118 balls, with his knock of two sixes and 21 fours powering England to 2-207.

"Five hundred wickets is done and dusted now. We've got a game hanging in the balance," Ashwin said before his abrupt withdrawal. "The game is going neck and neck. We'll have to bat and bowl well to stay in the game."

with AAP

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