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After marking his fifth try hundred day 3 of second test against England in Chennai, Ravichandran Ashwin revealed that playing sweeping shots against the spinners was a well thought out strategy.
Ashwin scored 106 of just 148 balls in India’s total of 286 seconds, on a surface that some experts have deemed unsuitable for test cricket.
Speaking at the end of the day’s play, the 34-year-old said he will sleep well through the night to recover. Of his plan to use the sweeping stroke to counter England’s slow bowlers, Ashwin explained:
“Even after the last test we talked about how we were going to counter (Jack) Leach and probably bring a sweep to the game. The last time I swept I was 19 and was kicked out of the first XI after I came out. I did hit a little sweep today. I am grateful that the plan has paid off. Kind of had a great day. I don’t know when I will play my next test here, but I am very happy.
Ravichandran Ashwin was the last to come out as India put England on an unlikely 482 to win the Test.
Thanks to Vikram Rathour for improving my staff: Ravichandran Ashwin
During his innings, Ravichandran Ashwin featured in a 96-point stand for the seventh wicket with the Indian captain Virat kohli. He won his first hundred tests since August 2016, and first against a team other than the West Indies.
The veteran off-spinner credited batting coach Vikram Rathour for the significant improvement in his stick in recent matches, including the Sydney Blockathon. Praising Rathour, Ravichandran Ashwin said:
“I started to practice sweeping; I can’t say if this happened in the last three days. Vikram Rathour was helpful in exploring new options. I would love to pay tribute to him for the way I have played with the bat over the past few months.
On the discussion between him and Mohammed Siraj as he approached his hundred on his native land, Ravichandran Ashwin said it was a bit light. He revealed:
“In the past he (Ishant Sharma) was with me when I had hundreds of them at home and once Siraj came I knew how to approach. I was just telling Siraj to look at the line of the ball and go where he wants. It was a fun thing and it was exciting to see how he [Siraj] celebrated and that says a lot about the locker room. By the time I got the groceries and looked up to the balcony, the applause was overwhelming. I can’t thank the crowd enough, they were very supportive.
England collapsed 53 to 3 to strains on day 3 of the test. Axar Patel picked up two wickets, while Ravichandran Ashwin scalped one.
Posted on Feb 15, 2021 at 6:37 PM IST
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