Let’s talk about the David Warner ball first, and then zoom out from there, because if you’re going to try to get your head around the disorienting, shapeshifting puzzle that is Ravichandran Ashwin then you need to realise there are layers and mirrors to this thing. Some of the walls move and some do not. Watch the ball and you’ll miss the hand. Watch the hand and you’ll miss the ball. Watch both and you may just miss the whole plot.
It’s the second one-day international between India and Australia in Indore. India are going to win. That’s not the important part. For Ashwin this doomed run-chase has become a deeply personal mission: a chance to convince India’s selectors that, after more than 18 months out of the side, he is worth a place in the World Cup squad. Everything is pointed at this. He’s been putting in marathon shifts at the national academy. He’s been turning out in local games in Tamil Nadu. He’s been staying out under the lights for extra batting practice. A bowler with more than 700 international wickets is still convinced that there is room for growth.
