Ravichandran Ashwin Credits 'Stability' for Winning Spell in Colombo Test
Ravichandran Ashwin has taken a record 17 wickets in the India versus Sri Lanka series so far. He has clearly been the spearhead of the bowling attack.
Ravichandran Ashwin has credited an article by a former Test batsman Sanjay Manjrekar for his emergence as a more 'stable' off-spinner in Test cricket. After bowling India to a massive 278-run series-levelling win at the P Sara Oval in Colombo on Monday, Ashwin said Manjrekar had opined that "stability" was key to success and he had worked hard on it.(Match Report | Scorecard | Highlights)
Ashwin returned match figures of seven for 118 and his five for 42 in the second innings broke the back of the Sri Lankan innings. Ashwin has 17 wickets in two Tests so far and it is the highest by an Indian against the islanders. The third Test starts at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo on August 28.
"Back in 2011-12, when I was playing in Adelaide, I read a piece from Sanjay Manjrekar that I was not stable at the crease when releasing the ball. I had bowled 50 overs so I was a bit tired, but there was merit to that piece. I am now more stable when releasing the ball," Ashwin said in a post-match chat on TV.
Ravichandran Ashwin said he bowled his "best spell" on Monday morning and it was indeed well-timed as India needed quick wickets as Sri Lanka started on their overnight score of 72 for 2, chasing an improbable winning target of 413.
"The wickets here are really slow, you have to really put in a lot to get purchase. Yesterday with the new ball I was slow because I wanted the new ball to bounce, but this morning with the older ball I had to put in a lot of overspin to get bounce out of the pitch.
"After Galle I was heartbroken. We just sat together and told everybody what all of us felt because we were all feeling bad. Just to get it out of the system, with only three days in between, was a good thing. To bounce back like this is superb," Ashwin said.
It was indeed a superb turnaround by Ashwin and Team India. Ashwin got the better of the retiring Kumar Sangakkara all four times the Sri Lankan great came out to face the Indian bowling. It only made Ashwin's first two Tests in the current three-match series extra special.