LIVE UPDATES: DAY 3
It was a special performance for Ashwin as it took place on soft ground. He had picked the wicket of opener Travis Head on day one and picked the other scalps after conceding just 34 runs on Friday.
The 36-year-old played down his achievement after the day’s game.
“No spell is better than another and I felt at different stages of this particular series, whether it was in Delhi, the numbers
probably doesn’t give you a five or six, but the bullet comes out beautifully throughout the series and whatever changes I made – charging, cocking my wrists, all of those things proved that my spells were much more penetrating. However, the small changes I made allowed me to have enough buy off the pitch, and that is more in the air than what he did in Bangladesh,” he said. declared.
Being the second highest wicket taker for India (472 Test wickets), Ashwin said his game is not just about numbers.
“You can go to bed feeling much better instead of just having three wickets in your kitty. It feels good to end up with a good bag of wickets, even if you don’t play sometimes you feel good. I’m going to bed tonight a little earlier and a little happier,” he said.
On the state of the test, Ashwin said India’s fate hinges on how the batters bat on Day 3.
“It’s a second-inning game, but we’ve got to hit hard and probably see some of our best hitters get a big score and chai and come out the day after tomorrow. I will be cheering on our batters from the bottom of my heart after a day like this as a bowler,” he said.
Ashwin praised Australian all-rounder Cameron Green, who scored his first hundred on Friday.
“I hope you have listened to the IPL auction. It just tells you how the Indian cricket fraternity rates Cameron. These are unique cricketers you are talking about,” said the off-spinner said.
“India is very different. We can’t protect these players for a longer period of time, (it’s) perform or perish. In countries like Australia and England, I think those types of cricketers are well prepared and I expect Cameron Green to be a wonderful cricketer all the way,” he added.
(AI Image)
