PEARS director of cricket Steve Rhodes has praised the impact made by Indian star Ravichandran Ashwin on Worcestershire during the last month at New Road.
Rhodes pulled off a masterstroke in bringing in all-rounder Ashwin for the finale to the season and it has acted as a major boost after a mid-season slump in the T20 Blast.
Ashwin, who has played more than 50 Tests and 111 ODIs, has made major contributions with bat and ball and also been a positive influence in the dressing room.
Worcestershire have won all three games since Ashwin’s arrival and are within six points of securing a return to Division One via promotion in the Specsavers County Championship.
Rhodes said: “It was a massive surprise to the dressing room that we managed to get such a brilliant cricketer to come and be our overseas player. Just that alone is enough to lift the boys.
“His character, the way he plays his cricket, was another good reason for lifting the rest of the dressing room so he has played a major part.
“You watch him go out and bat and he is very positive. You watch him bowl and he is very positive in his efforts and what he tries to do.
“He speaks and talks a very good game but he should do because he is very experienced and has done some amazing things in international cricket.”
One of those benefitting from the arrival of Ashwin is young all-rounder George Rhodes, who has been able to pick the brains three of international cricket’s leading spinners this summer.
The Worcestershire all-rounder has made a big impact with the bat in recent games in the County’s push for promotion in the County Championship, scoring vital runs and featuring in crucial partnerships.
But Rhodes jnr feels he is also gaining from working alongside Australian star Nathan Lyon, New Zealand ace Mitchell Santner and now 31-year-old Indian magician Ashwin.
“He (Ashwin) is fantastic to have around. He is one of the best, if not the best Test spinner in the world so to be working so closely with him is just absolutely fantastic,” said Rhodes jnr.
“Just to see how he trains, how he works and how his mindset is, how to get players out and things like that.
“I am trying to pick up things while he is here and I try to take a lot from all of them, from Nathan and Mitch as well.
“It is no secret having Nathan Lyon here, Sants and now Ashwin is helping me as a bowler, and help me to keep improving.”