Ravichandran Ashwin Reveals Conversation With George Bailey on Australia's Decision to Field First in Final of ICC ODI WC 2023

Australia clinched their record-extending sixth ICC ODI World Cup title with their victory in the 2023 edition of the ICC showpiece in India.

The Pat Cummins-led side got the better of hosts India in the final of the 50-over tournament at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday to reclaim the coveted trophy.

Cummins won the toss in the final and opted to bat first as the Australians wrapped up the Indian innings for 140 runs in 50 overs, before chasing down the target down successfully.

Indian veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin spoke about the Aussies’ decision to bowl first in his show on YouTube, citing his chat with former Australian cricketer and chairman of sectors George Bailey.

“I was checking out if the pitch was disintegrating at the mid-innings and I met George Bailey, the chairman of selectors and asked ‘Why didn’t you guys bat first like you always do after winning the toss?’,” Ashwin began.

Ashwin elucidated how Bailey explained to him the decision to put India to bat first worked out well for the men from down under, thanks to their experience of playing on Indian soil during the IPL.

“For that, he answered back, ‘We have played IPL and bilateral series for a long time now, and in our experience, the red soil disintegrates, but the black soil gets better to bat on under the lights’,” the spinner continued.

Bailey spoke about how the different types of pitches react throughout the game the decision to field first in the summit clash was a calculated option taking all that into consideration.

“Dew is not a big impact in red soil pitches, whereas black soil pitches are good turners in the afternoon, but in the night, the pitch solidifies into a paata wicket and plays as though it is made of concrete,” he continued.

Ashwin elucidated on how the Indian nation had become the central hub of cricket.

“I was flabbergasted listening to that, seeing all the experience from IPL and the bilateral series and India becoming a central hub of world cricket. They can read the pitch perfectly,” he said.