NEW DELHI: Star spinner Ravichandran Ashwin on Wednesday achieved a unique feat in his illustrious Test career when he became the first Indian and only the fifth bowler in world cricket to dismiss both the father and son in Test matches during the opening day of the first Test against West Indies in Roseau, Dominica.
Ashwin, who made his Test debut in 2011, had previously dismissed Tagenarine Chanderpaul's father, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, during Ashwin's maiden appearance in Test cricket.
In a Test match 12 years ago, Ashwin trapped Shivnarine Chanderpaul in front of the wickets in the second innings.
Ashwin, who had 474 Test wickets before this match, bowled a brilliant delivery to dismiss Tagenarine Chanderpaul.
Interestingly, the Chanderpauls feature three times in this unique list, as both Shivnarine and Tagenarine were dismissed by Ashwin, while Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc and South African off-spinner Simon Harmer are the other two bowlers who have accomplished this feat against the Chanderpauls.
This achievement highlights Ashwin's skill and consistency as a bowler in Test cricket and adds another noteworthy accomplishment to his already impressive Test career.
May be it has got to do with Chanderpaul senior's longevity as he retired as late as 2015, while his son made his debut in Tests last year.
1/10:1st Test: India on top against West Indies on Day 1
PTI
2/10:Ravichandran Ashwin
<p>Ravichandran Ashwin's five-wicket haul highlighted a dominant day for India who reached 80/0 at stumps after bundling out the West Indies for 150 on Day 1 of 1st Test in Dominica.</p>AP
3/10:Five-wicket haul
<p>Ashwin snared 5-60 off 24.3 overs to leave home captain Kraigg Brathwaite regretting the decision to bat first on winning the toss. </p>AFP
4/10:Alick Athanaze
<p>Ashwin got excellent support from Ravindra Jadeja (3-26) with the only resistance of note coming from debutant batsman Alick Athanaze (47). </p>AFP
5/10:Ashwin
<p>Ashwin was brought into action after just 40 minutes' play with India's opening bowlers appearing frustrated on a pitch offering very little assistance. </p>AP
6/10:Abysmal batting
<p>Ashwin bowled Tagenarine Chanderpaul and then forced Brathwaite into an ugly miscue which effectively set the tone for an abysmal batting effort by the home side. </p>AFP
7/10:Athanaze falls
<p>Athanaze fell just short of the half-century mark, an attempted pull off Ashwin presenting a simple skied catch to Shardul Thakur at mid-on. </p>AP
8/10:Athanaze and Holder
<p>Athanaze added 41 for the sixth wicket with Jason Holder before Mohammed Siraj induced the former captain into a pull for Thakur to take the catch at deep square-leg. </p>AFP
9/10:Shardul Thakur
<p>Shardul Thakur also had his share of success with the ball in the morning, disposing of Raymon Reifer via a low catch to Ishan Kishan. </p>AP
10/10:Opening stand
<p>Yashasvi Jaiswal (40*) then joined Rohit Sharma (30*) in an unbroken opening stand against a varied bowling attack which hardly threatened. </p>AFPThe other two bowlers to achieve the feat are England all-rounder Ian Botham and Pakistan legend Wasim Akram.
Their feat was also eerily similar as they dismissed the New Zealand father son duo of Lance and Chris Cairns.
Going into lunch on Day 1 of the opening Test, Ashwin had already picked up 699 international wickets across formats with 476 of them coming in Tests.
(With PTI inputs)
