Ravichandran Ashwin Breaks Silence Over Receiving Five-Run Penalty Against England

Ravichandran Ashwin made history by becoming the second Indian cricket team bowler ever to take 500 Test wickets but it was not the only thing that grabbed headlines regarding the veteran spinner on Friday. During Day 2 of the third Test match against England, Ashwin received a five-run penalty for running over the over the protected area of the pitch. As a result, England started their first innings on 5 for no loss. After the end of day's play, Ashwin opened up about the incident and took complete blame for the five-run penalty.

 "My poor motor skills didn't allow me to get off the pitch in time," Ashwin said in the press conference.

According to the ICC law, the protected area of the pitch is "that area of the pitch contained within a rectangle bounded at each end by imaginary lines parallel to the popping creases and 5 ft/1.52 m in front of each, and on the sides by imaginary lines, one each side of the imaginary line joining the centres of the two middle stumps, each parallel to it and 1 ft/30.48 cm from it".

Opener Ben Duckett smashed a century to lead England's attacking reply of 207-2 on Friday after Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin reached 500 Test wickets in the third match of the series.

The left-handed Duckett reached his third Test hundred in 88 balls as England reached 207-2 to cut their deficit after they bowled out India for 445 on day two in Rajkot.

Duckett, on 133, and Joe Root, on nine, were batting at close of play. The tourists still trail India by 238 runs. Duckett came out roaring and, despite a hostile opening spell by the Indian quicks, hit regular boundaries in his 80-ball opening stand of 84 with Zak Crawley.

Ashwin took down Crawley after tea for his 500th Test wicket, becoming only the