'Having Fewer Test Centres Helps, But...': R Ashwin Goes Against Rajiv Shukla's Statement

Ashwin spoke about 5 Test centres in India [Source: PTI]

Premier off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin on Tuesday agreed that having a limited number of Test centres helps the players but fell short of endorsing the idea for India, saying it was above his pay grade to comment on that.

The debate on Test centres was reignited after Kanpur's Green Park stadium came under criticism for a poor drainage system, resulting in a loss of full two days in the second game between India and Bangladesh. Star batter Virat Kohli had suggested a few years ago that India should have five major Test centres like Australia and England.

Ashwin goes against Rajiv Shukla's bizarre statement

However, BCCI Vice-President, Rajiv Shukla, was against the decision to only allot 5 Test centres, and instead, he stated that the rotation policy matters in India, and unlike Australia or England, India have many Test venues, which is an advantage.

"Kanpur is a permanent Test centre. Then we have to keep other aspects also in mind. Second is our rotation policy. So, we have to go by the rotation policy," Shukla stated. 

India has now got a lot many venues. We have got maximum number of venues which Australia and other countries don't have. And we have to provide opportunity to all of them," he added. 

When Ashwin was asked the same question, he cheekily spoke the truth, but didn't dare to question the authority directly as he swayed away from the question by taking a subtle dig at Shukla and BCCI staffs.

"Does it help a player if you have just a few Test centres? Most certainly it does," Ashwin said after India trounced Bangladesh by seven wickets here on Tuesday. Because when we go to Australia, they play India only at five Test centres. They don't play us in Canberra. They don't play us at any of the other venues where they won't be very familiar with the conditions. So do England."

"They have select Test centres and that's where they play. Some of those are only white-ball centres. Can we do it here (in India)? That's above my pay grade. I cannot comment on that," the player of the series said.

The advantages of playing in fewer Test centres

The advantage of playing at the only select Test centres is that the players are familiar with the conditions and know what exactly they would require to do at a specific venue.

Australia have a tradition of playing at Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide. England have London, Birmingham, Manchester, Nottingham and Edgbaston as their major Test centres.

India, if they play on limited Test centres will know the conditions, the weather, and the pitch conditions, and as a result, will produce better performances. However, BCCI's policy is such that it cannot allott fe venues for Test matches, and keep other venues for white-ball cricket.

(Inputs from PTI)

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