R Ashwin notices Travis Head changing his trigger moment in nets to counter spin ahead of Boxing Day Test, says 'Is that the ploy for round the stumps?'

Ravichandran Ashwin has retired from international cricket but he wants to stay up to date with the action. Ashwin analysed a batting clip of in-form Travis Head batting in the nets ahead of Boxing Day Test. The bowler is bowling from around the stumps and Head can be seen moving to the off stump to get in the line of the ball instead of moving back and playing the cut shot to beat the fielder on the off side.

"Omg ! He is getting to the off stump? Is that the ploy for round the stumps?" Ashwin wrote in reply to a video posted by a journalist on December 25.

On the eve of the fourth Test, skipper Pat Cummins said there are no fitness concerns around Head and he is fit to play. The middle order batter underwent a fitness test on the Christmas day and later had a hit in the nets as well. He may have been practicing for the likes of Washington Sundar as there is a chance India will play with two spinners at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

He had a quad strain which he sustained during the Gabba Test. The southpaw has scored two centuries already and is the leading run-scorer in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 by a long margin.

"Trav's good to go, he'll play," Cummins told the media as he announced the playing XI. "He just ticked off some final things today and yesterday. But no worries about injury with Trav. He'll go into the game fully fit.

"I don't think you'll see too much management of him throughout the game. He just kind of plays as is. Maybe around fielding, if he's a bit uncomfortable, we will (manage him), but he's fully fit."

Ashwin's replacement in squad

Meanwhile, the selectors have replaced Ashwin with uncapped Mumbai spin-bowling all-rounder Tanush Kotian in the squad. Kotian has 101 wickets from 33 first-class games including three five-wicket hauls. He averages over 41 with the bat. The 26-year-old has scored 1,525 runs from 33 Tests including two centuries and 13 half-centuries.

Lyon, Cummins to leave Ashwin behind?

Ashwin's World Test Championship record will be in danger. He is currently the leading wicket-taker with 195 wickets from 41 Tests. He is closely followed by Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon and Cummins with 190 and 189 wickets respectively.