India in England: We Gave Our Best and it is All About Confidence, Says Ravichandran Ashwin

Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin on Saturday conceded that India had a bad day in office but expressed confidence that his team's batsmen would do a better job in the second innings of the fifth and final cricket Test against England here.  (Day 2 Report | Scorecard | Highlights)

On day two, the hosts finished at 385/7 in reply to the Indian first innings total of 148 runs, taking a lead of 237 runs. (Ballance Hails Root and Buttler)

"The sun came out today and the pitch had flattened out a bit today. We toiled through the day and gave our best today. It is about confidence at the end of the day and also enjoying the game we all love so much," Ashwin said at the press conference after the second day's play.

"So, we were talking in the field today that we can do a better job in the second innings. Everybody has a bad day."

Ashwin picked up two wickets in the post-lunch session as England had a mini-collapse. They went from 191/1 to 204/4 and it appeared as if India might be able to wriggle their way back into the game.

He was at the centre of action in that period of play picking his first overseas Test wicket since 2011-12. It is only his third Test since India started touring last December.

"While I was out of the playing eleven, I have worked on my action a bit more. I am trying to get more side-on. I also try and stay as balance as possible and have been working at these small details," said Ashwin who took two wickets for 55 runs on Saturday.

"I try to be the best possible cricketer I can. I got a good spell in today though I did not really start too well. I felt like I was slipping and then I I came back in the lunch break. I looked at the videos and took some feedback on what I could be doing wrong and the speeds I bowled out there," he added.

Joe Root though stood in India's way once again and struck his fourth consecutive half-century in the series to defy the visiting bowlers. He also scored a hundred in the first Test at Nottingham. Ashwin was full of praise for both Root and team-mate Varun Aaron.

"He (Root) is a hard competitor and I love to compete against him, and love to go against him again and again," said Ashwin.

"Varun Aaron was charging in throughout the day and he bowled quick. I think he was touching 90 all day long and that is what Test cricket is all about. Tomorrow he will come back and bowl another such spell."

India could have done better if they had not spilled chances in the slips, which is becoming a sort of bad-habit for the team in every match.

"Confidence is the keyword here, as you catch more and more, you get confident. When you drop one you feel horrible. (Murali) Vijay put one down and then he caught one and he was so happy, that he almost wanted to throw the ball up.

"So we are working hard at slip catching and we are trying different options there. As a young team we are working at addressing this," Ashwin said.