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New Delhi: The Australians have added 95 runs to their tally after losing seven wickets for 136 runs on the first day of the fourth Test on Friday, but off spinner Ravichandran Ashwin feels its not an easy job to wipe out the tail-enders at one go.
“The era is over when tail-enders would come, slog and get out…these days every player in the team is expected to bat and contribute,” pointed out Ashwin, who already has four wickets in his kitty. “I don’t think that has been a problem (wiping off the tail). They have batted pretty well and we should respect that. We have to stick to our guns and see what happens. In different scenarios, different teams do well. For example, Pattinson has an average of 30.”
Having already taken 26 wickets in the series so far, Ashwin has been India’s trump card against Australia. On Friday, too, he was the pick of the bowler with some fine dismissals.
Asked which one of the four wickets he earned was most satisfying, Ashwin said he was happy the way he got Steven Smith out. “I bought that wicket…I was very satisfied. In case of Johnson, it was error in judgement.”
Smith, who scored a patient 46 off 145 balls, looked good for a bigger innings but was foxed by the turn of the delivery from Ashwin and was forced to offer a catch to Ajinkya Rahane at short leg.
Asked how different Kotla strip is in comparison to Chepauk pitch, Ashwin said: “That’s red soil and this is black soil…it’s always evident that on black soil the ball doesn’t bounce as much as on the red soil.”
When enquired about the assistance one got from the wicket on Friday, he replied, “If there are spots on the wicket, then one shouldn't get carried away as margin of error is very less. One shouldn't try too many things from back of the hand.”
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