The England batsman explains why it's so difficult to take wickets from
Ashwin in Test cricket.
Why is it so difficult to bat against R Ashwin? Few persons are more qualified
than seasoned spin player Joe Root to respond to that query. Even though he's
scored 418 runs at an average of 59 against 693 balls faced by Ashwin in Test
cricket, he acknowledges he's not always at ease against the offspinner. In the
current series, Ashwin has removed Root seven times, including twice at
Dharamsala. Ashwin is preparing to play his 100th Test match against England.
When questioned about the difference between facing Australia's Nathan Lyon and
England's Ashwin, Root responded, "I'd say with Ashwin, (it) is making
sure that you don't play the previous ball," on the Sky Cricket vodcast
presented by former England captains Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain.
"He's (Ashwin) very good at trying to drag you across the crease, get your
head one side of it, try and beat both edges quite frequently."When
playing Lyon, overspin is everything, particularly in the initial part of the
Test match. In addition to trying to incorporate as much leg slip and short leg
action as possible into the game, he is also attempting to get extremely over
the top of the ball and get bounce or bowling between your knee-roll and hip. And
then simply gradually slow down and drift farther into those footholds that
Mitchell Starc has so graciously provided for him over an extended length of
time.
"Ashwin is, probably, slightly more trying to find ways of getting you
out, rather than trying to weigh you down like Lyon will over long periods."
In the second innings of the fourth Test in Ranchi, Root was both the observer
and the sufferer of Ashwin's inventive tactics on a pitch with a lot of bounce
but not much spin. In the fifth over of England's second innings on the third
day, Ashwin, who had offered to bowl with the new ball, got rid of Ben Duckett
and Ollie Pope in consecutive deliveries.
The third and most important wicket he took was Root.
Ashwin, who was bowling outside of the crease from around the wicket, used his
drift to lure Root forward and across, almost tripping him, before spinning the
ball back past the inside edge and striking the pad. Given away without being
used in the field, and reversed upon review by DRS with three red lights.
Ashwin said he had to "rewire" his bowling to adapt to the lack of
bounce and turn after claiming his first five-wicket haul of the series in
Ranchi. He now relies on side-spin with the new ball and over-spin later in the
innings.
Before his 100th Test, Ashwin's teammate Cheteshwar Pujara
paid tribute to him and said that Ashwin puts hitters to the test by pitching
on an "in-between length". Root concurred.
"It is the way it (ball) gathers pace off the wicket because of his seam
position and how cleverly he can move it around," Root stated.
"Clearly, the side with the extra skid is the glossy side. Therefore, you
need to make sure that your footwork is precise and that you get into position
a little bit faster. You don't play from a lazy position because that's when he
really shines—when you're still moving and the ball is in the kind of dangerous
location you want to stay away from.
He uses the crease very differently from how your traditional
offspinner might. He bowls over-spin, and side-spin, can get really tight into the
stumps, can use the crease (and) get wider, and has got carrom balls and lots of
different tricks. So you have just got to be really wary of all the different
threats that he poses and make sure you have got really good skills to combat
that and try and get on top of him."
When asked by Hussain whether he could pick Ashwin's seam
position, Root reckoned he could, even if it was half in jest. He employs the
crease in a very different way than an offspinner might. He bowls with side and
over spin, has a variety of tricks up his sleeve, can go really tight into the
stumps, can use the crease to get wider, and possesses carrom balls. Therefore,
all you need to do is be extremely cautious of the various risks he presents,
ensure that you have excellent talents to counter that, and work to subdue
him."
Hussain asked Root if he could choose Ashwin's seam position, and Root said he
could, if only half-jokingly. Yes, I would like to express that. Though I'd
want to think otherwise, he's probably going to get me out of the game this
week twice! In an attempt to offer yourself the best opportunity as soon as
possible, you are searching for as many indicators as you can. You have to try
to play off the wicket as well, but you want to be in a position where you will
have the best opportunity of succeeding if you can smother the ball or if you
can give yourself enough time to get back and watch what it does off the
surface."
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