When R Ashwin picked up a stunning seven for 83 in the first Test at Antigua, it was his maiden five-wicket haul outside the sub-continent. His all-round effort in the game – scored a century batting at No. 6 – helped India take a 1-0 lead. On Saturday, the ace off spinner ran through the West Indies side picking his second five-for of the tour and fourth in as many Test matches. His 5/52 is the first by a spinner at Sabina Park since 2006 when Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh achieved the feat in the same match.
Ashwin, who said he would cherish getting a five-wicket haul on a first day track in an overseas Test, spoke about his hunger to keep breaching the mark. “For starters, whenever I have started a tour or a series, my initial intention is to get a five-wicket haul. Like a batsman wants to go out there to get hundred, my intention is to get a five-wicket haul.”
“Once I get that momentum, I try and capitalize on through the tournament. I don't turn back. Once I pick up a couple of wickets, I'm always looking to hit the five-wicket mark. It's sort of psychological thing. It's sort of a hunger for me, nothing else.”
He was made to work hard for his first wicket when local boys Marlon Samuels and Jermaine Blackwood tried to revive the home team after being three down for seven. Struggling for form, Blackwood launched a counterattack and looked to smash the spinner. A wily Ashwin remained unflustered and trapped Blackwood in front just before lunch.
His dismissal of Samuels, the most experienced West Indies player was even more captivating as he had jumped down the track to hit a six over long on, but was out next ball when Ashwin tossed the ball even higher. The added dip found an inside edge that went straight to forward short leg. It was the sixth occasion in Test that Samuels had fallen to Ashwin. “Most of the dismissals were brought about by difference in speeds rather than much of spin, actually. It was initially damp and there was some turn, but after that it flattened out a bit and started going straight. This ball, once it gets older, it becomes easier to bat. There's a lot more time. I think it was more about bounce and speed variation that created the problem,” he explained.
The senior player praised KL Rahul, who put the visitors ahead with his unbeaten knock of 75 off 114 balls as India ended day two on 126/1 after bowling West Indies out for 196. Rahul replaced injured M Vijay and the elegant right-hander batted with confidence. “From what I think about Rahul, he's a fine player. We all know that he's a quality cricketer. He's made a lot of runs in first-class cricket. He has pretty much arrived at this level. Beforehand, when he made hundreds for us, they have been crucial knocks. He made one in Sri Lanka, which is very very memorable. As a matter of fact, the way he played in the IPL, it's just an extension. Everybody wants Rahul to do well, which is a big tick for him.
“I've nicknamed him batting machine. He keeps batting all the time and it's not a surprise that he's made runs and I'm very happy for him.”
