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'Talks Of Getting Dropped' - Ashwin Recalls Career's 'Turning Point' Before 100th Test 

Ashwin deemed the 2012 England series as a point of career transformation [X.com]Ashwin deemed the 2012 England series as a point of career transformation [X.com]

Ravichandran Ashwin recalled what he believes was a "turning point" of his career in Tests for India. The modern-day legend, approaching his 100th Test for the country in the scenic Dharamshala against England, said his struggles with the ball during the 2012 series versus the same opposition were a point of transformation for him. 

Playing in only his fourth Test assignment for India, the then-inexperienced off-spinner was dominated back in time by England's batting greats Kevin Pietersen and Alastair Cook as he struggled to control his lengths in the manner that he does with command right now. 

Ashwin's 14 wickets over 4 Test matches came at a woeful average of 52.64, and he was criticised widely for being one of the reasons behind India's historic 2-1 series defeat at the hands of the spirited and skillful Englishmen. 

R Ashwin Recalls Career Turning Point 

Speaking to the press ahead of the fifth and final Test in Dharamshala in the ongoing series, Ashwin recalled his failings and the criticism he received for them as a major point of transformation in his career in Test cricket.

"That series vs England at home… where Cook and Pietersen scored runs. Can well be the turning point for me. There were talks of me getting dropped… it was a wonderful lesson for me to improve say 5%. I knew what I had to correct. Since then it was addressing downs," Ashwin said. 

Ashwin hit the drawing board after that series and has worked tirelessly on his bowling to master the craft of off-spin, retaining all the strong virtues of a classical spinner without compromising on his great openmindedness and the courage to try a bag of limited-overs tricks up his sleeves. 

The indomitable bowler has since then taken a remarkable 444 wickets at an average of just 22.71 in Tests, including 30 five-wicket hauls.