Ravichandran Ashwin set for County stint before England Tests: Report

India’s premier spinner Ravichandran Ashwin is expected to play a County Championship match for Surrey ahead of India’s five-match Test against England, starting August 4 at Trent Bridge. However, his playing for Surrey will depend on the timely arrival of his work visa, ESPNCricinfo reported.

He is expected to play in Surrey’s next match against Somerset at the Oval, starting July 11. Previously, he has represented Nottinghamshire and Worcestershire.

Currently, the Indian cricket team is on a break after the World Test Championship. Ashwin was the tournament’s highest wicket-taker with 71 wickets from 14 Tests at an average of 20.33. Ashwin’s match against Somerset is scheduled to end on July 14, a day after the Indian team reconvenes for the English series.

Before the Test series, the Indian team doesn’t have any series scheduled.

Earlier, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) requested the English and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to arrange for a practice game before the start of the first Test.

This comes after India captain Virat Kohli, at the end of the WTC, expressed the desire that his side wanted to play a first-class game ahead of the series against England but were not given that.

In other news, India opener Shubman Gill has been ruled out for eight weeks after sustaining a stress-related injury at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton.

The other player who injured himself was Ishant Sharma. However, he is set to fit in time for the England Tests.

As far as the County Championship is concerned, the teams are allowed to have two overseas players in their XI. While Surrey already have two registered in Hashim Amla and Kyle Jamieson, Jamieson is an injury doubt for the Somerset fixture.

Ashwin, in his 79-match Test career, has taken 413 wickets with the best bowling figures of 13/140. He has an average of 24.56 and an economy of 2.80. He has 19 four-wicket hauls and 30 five-wicket hauls with 7 10 wicket haul.