The nice Steve Waugh has turn into the most recent former cricketer to query India’s group choice for the World Test Championship closing in opposition to Australia, saying they’ve “picked the wrong side” by not together with Ravichandran Ashwin on a difficult pitch. World Cup-winning Australian captain Waugh’s evaluation comes after the likes of Sourav Ganguly, Ricky Ponting and Sanjay Manjrekar expressed their shock on the Indian group administration’s choice to take to the sector at The Oval with out senior off-spinner Ashwin, presently the world’s primary bowler in Tests.

Waugh recalled how Australia made the same error within the fifth Test at The Oval in 2019, a match which England gained by 145 runs after Tim Paine opted to bowl first.

“We made the same blunder four years ago in the Ashes. The Oval is always tricky,” Waugh was quoted as saying by AAP.

“It looks green on top but underneath it is crumbly and a bit dry. You can get lulled into the overcast sky and green pitch and think it is going to do everything. As soon as the sun comes out it is totally different and dries out quickly.

“I do suppose (India) have picked the fallacious facet. Spin will play an enormous half on this Test match and it’ll be up and down.” Waugh added that he would picked Ashwin for his batting, let alone his bowling.

“I’d have picked Ashwin for his batting, not to mention his bowling. That is why I am unable to consider he is not enjoying as a result of he has bought 5 Test centuries as effectively. It may be very unusual.” India’s leading wicket-taker in the 2021-2023 WTC cycle, Ashwin lost out to Ravindra Jadeja, who is playing as the only spinner in the team.

The Indian team said Ashwin was not considered for selection in the playing XI owing to the conditions at the Oval.

Batting first, Australia put up 469 after centuries by Steve Smith and Travis Head and then had India in trouble at 151 for five at stumps on the second day.

Ashwin has 474 Test wickets and could have asked some probing questions to the Australian batters, especially the left-handers, with his variations on a pitch that was also offering variable bounce. PTI AH AH APA APA APA