Ishant Sharma, on Monday, became the third Indian pacer to get 300 Test wickets and India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin had some high praise for the lanky quick. Over the last 14 years, Sharma had displayed exemplary work ethic and Ashwin is hopeful of him getting 400 or probably 500 Test wickets.

“Look, Ishant has been one of the most hard-working cricketers, that I have seen in that Indian team dressing room.

“He has worked extremely hard, for more than just one reason, because being that tall (6 ft 4 inch) itself requires a lot of facets to be managed through a career which is spanned out through almost 14 years now,” said Ashwin, who himself, is 14 wickets short of the 400-mark.

“…but I really wish to see him get to 400 and probably 500 wickets, which should be sort of road map for a lot of Indian quicks going forward.”

Ishant is only two short of 100 Test appearances and will only be the second pace bowler from India to achieve that coveted landmark.

For Ashwin, that itself is a measure of his achievement.

“Ishant, who went to Australia and got Ricky Ponting out (in 2007-08), and then has gone through so many other tours, had his fair share of injuries, for a fast bowler to get close to 100 Tests in India is not a joke and it is fantastic, fantastic achievement,” said the wily off-spinner.

On the match front, England set a world record chase of 420 runs and the hosts will be looking for a draw if not an unlikely chase.