Was looking to keep it tight: Ashwin
First Published : 24 Jan 2012, 20:17
Last Modified : 24 Jan 2012, 20:17
Adelaide, Jan 24: Brought into the attack in the fourth over of Day 1 at the Adelaide Oval, R Ashwin responded with the wickets of Ed Cowan and Shaun Marsh. The talented offspinner, who got India the early breakthroughs, has found a place in the playing eleven after missing out in the third Test at Perth.
Ashwin spoke about the events of the day in a brief interview at stumps. Excerpts:
On Day 1 of the fourth Test
It’s been a hard day, a hot day as well. I kept on bending my back and kept on trying to build the pressure all through the day but credit to [Ricky] Ponting and [Michael] Clarke [as well]; they played some really good shots and took the game away from us [in] the middle session there. But the ground is historically known for being a good batting wicket and for big runs coming in the first innings. That’s what really keeps us in the hunt all the time. We’ll look to try and get a few wickets tomorrow and wrap it up as quickly as possible.
On whether he expected to bowl as early as he did in the innings
I wasn’t expecting to be bowling that early. I wouldn’t say it came as a surprise or anything; I was just leaving my mind very blank. I was just enjoying the […] Test match. […] Suddenly Viru [Virender Sehwag] called me and told me I had to get into the attack. It was just a challenge. I had bowled to David Warner before; I was just looking to keep it as tight as possible and fell into a beautiful rhythm.
On whether India should have included another spinner given the number of overs he and Sehwag bowled
It’s a team management call at the end of the day. I didn’t really take a close look at the wicket or anything, nor do I know personally how the Adelaide wicket [plays]. It’s my first trip to Adelaide as well. It’s not a decision to which I would say yes or no [precisely]. I think it was a call taken more on the basis of a little bit of grass being found on the wicket […] It was seaming around a bit in the morning so I would say three seamers had to be the call unless you played five bowlers.
On not bowling many carrom balls
It wasn’t a plan not to bowl [carrom balls]; it was just that I wanted to execute the basic plans that I had for each and every batsman in the best possible way that I could. Anything that would be a hindrance to any of those plans I wouldn’t do and today was once such day. Tomorrow I could turn up and bowl more of them.
