Ashwin came in at number eight and showed everyone how to bat on a deteriorating surface with an excellent century
South Africa's Temba Bavuma was left stranded on 95 not out as they tightened their grip over scandal-hit Australia after reducing the hapless visitors to 110 for six at the close on the second day of the fourth and final Test on Saturday.
They might have been disappointing so far but Indian opener Murali Vijay is still hopeful that the Indian spinners will utilise the spin-friendly conditions on the final day. Scorecard: "It's a pretty good wicket, (though it has) gone slower. There's a lot of assistance to the spinners now. Hopefully we can put some pressure in the morning session get some wickets and you never know," said Vijay after the fourth day's play at the SCA Stadium in Rajkot. Vijay feels that India still have the edge.
Mayank Agarwal knows that he could be confined to the sidelines once K L Rahul and Rohit Sharma are back in the mix, but what has helped him stay focussed is words of wisdom from coach Rahul Dravid, who told him to control what's in his domain.
A summary of the first day's proceedings in the Ranji Trophy matches across the country.
The first Test between New Zealand and Australia is hanging in balance after day three in Christchurch on Saturday.
Azhar Ali hit his fourth Test ton against Australia as Pakistan piled on 476-4 before declaring
Cheteshwar Pujara's marathon double hundred complemented by Wriddhiman Saha's dogged century put India in complete command with an imposing total of 603 for 9 against Australia on the fourth day of the third cricket Test.
'I knew that if I could sit with him and talk, I could convince him. Today, we were called on by the Prime Minister. Tamim said he would withdraw his retirement letter. But he has taken one-and-a-half months leave for regaining his physical and mental fitness.'
England pacer James Anderson concedes sledging never really distracts Sachin Tendulkar but what might have a "detrimental effect" on him and India during the Test series starting next week is the massive hype around the veteran batsman's impending 100th ton.
New Zealand debutant Devon Conway crafted a century on the opening day of the first Test against England on Wednesday, with his unbeaten knock of 136 leading the visitors to 246-3 at stumps at Lord's.
Younis Khan's superb 218 put Pakistan in a strong position before they picked up four England wickets to take complete control on the third day of the fourth and final Test at The Oval on Saturday.
Exuberant fans were stunned into silence at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium when Sachin Tendulkar once again missed out on his 100th international ton, on the fourth day of the first Test against the West Indies in New Delhi on Wednesday.
Kane Williamson scored his fifth century in eight Tests in 2015 to guide New Zealand to a five-wicket victory over Sri Lanka before lunch on the fourth day of the second Test at Seddon Park in Hamilton on Monday.
India took a firm grip on the first Test against Sri Lanka by taking a first innings lead of 192 and snaring the hosts' openers in the second innings by the end of Day 2 in Galle on Thursday.
Smith's player of the match effort of 211 and 82 runs in the two innings has lifted him to 937 rating points, only 10 less than his all-time best aggregate achieved in December 2017.
A Test match that ended in a forgettable draw between Australia and India on Tuesday will be memorable for all the wrong reasons for batsman Shaun Marsh who was run out for 99 in a desperate bid to raise his first century on home soil.
South Africa trail by 439 runs and will need to bat for much of the weekend to stay in the contest and avoid going 2-1 behind in the four-Test series.
Former India pacer Venkatesh Prasad has come down heavily on the Board of Control for Cricket in India and its selectors, saying ignoring Sarfaraz Khan for the upcoming Test series against Australia is "unfair" and "an abuse of domestic cricket".
Gary Ballance joins Kepler Wessels as the only players to have scored centuries for two countries.
England's batters have failed miserably in the World Cup and need to read situations better as the team looks to bounce back from the brink, says assistant coach Marcus Trescothick.
Joe Root continued with his purple patch during the first Ashes Test against Australia at Edgbaston, bringing up his 30th Test century.
West Indies opening batsman Omar Phillips fell six runs short of a debut Test century as Bangladesh fought back on the third day of the first Test in St Vincent by bowling the hosts out for 307. West Indies had a first innings lead of 69 which was cut to 43 at the close with Bangladesh on 26 without loss from seven overs.
Captain Steven Smith took a sharp catch to snare India's first wicket after scoring a big century to fire Australia to a mammoth first innings total of 530 on day two of the third Test in Melbourne on Saturday.
Having added 123 with Priyank Panchal (47) for the opening stand, India lost Ruturaj Gaikwad (21) in the second over of the third morning, when Rachin Ravindra (2/96) got him stumped by keeper Cam Fletcher.
A round-up of all the Ranji Trophy matches played on Thursday.
Australia's David Warner breathed life into the rain-ruined final Test with a pulsating ton as the match meandered to a draw against the West Indies on Thursday. Warner, determined to finish an undistinguished series on a high, reached his 16th Test century off 82 balls before a small Sydney crowd. The buccaneering opener had a highest score of 64 in the two previous Tests as team-mates helped themselves to six centuries against the tourists' innocuous bowling attack.
Following are the records set by England and Stokes en route his magnificent double century and the massive first innings total...
In the latest ICC ODI Rankings, Mohammed Siraj was dethroned from the top as he slipped to third place, while Josh Hazlewood climbed to the top.
Agarwal carried his stellar form in Test cricket into the 50-over format, collecting 15 fours and a six.
Shivnarine Chanderpaul brought all his experience into play as he notched up an unbeaten 111 to steer West Indies to 256 for five and share the honours with India on day one of the first cricket Test at the Ferozshah Kotla on Sunday.
There is talk that if India go for a four-pronged pace attack, with both Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane having a crack at the first Test.
'Once he failed in the Australia series at home, there was very little chance for him but selectors didn't want to change things ahead of WTC final.'
Cheteshwar Pujara and Karun Nair created records albeit of different kinds.
Venkatesh Prasad has criticised the exclusion of Ishan Kishan from India's playing eleven
'...It's just nice to show I can score runs. I am happy to be out there and show the real me. I don't know why I threw my bat in the air, but that is me.'
