We’re refreshed and positive: Ravichandran Ashwin

Fighting to stay alive in the series, India will look to win the sixth ODI on Wednesday in Nagpur. Refreshed after a six-day break, the Indian team is ready for the battle at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium on October 30. While speaking to the media ahead of the match, Ravichandran Ashwin said, “As a whole the feeling that we get is everybody is refreshed and looking forward to the game.” (Also Read: India vs Australia Star Sports 6th ODI 2013: Preview)

The bowlers toiled hard in the nets, working on their skills and focusing on accuracy. The off-spinner himself, Vinay Kumar and Shami Ahmed were among those to work with bowling coach, Joe Dawes, at the practice wicket in the ground, bowling at the target mark on a stump. When asked if there was any change in training methods since the bowlers were seen practicing separately while the batsmen had a session in the nets, he said, “It is not about any special session. It is just that we need to do something specific for our own self rather than just go in there and bowling to the batsmen. We thought that we needed a bit of break, we thought we needed a change in the way we are practicing so we tried some spot bowling. We’re trying to go into the game with a good mental state.

Asked if there is a greater need for variation in conditions that have been more helpful to the batsmen, Ashwin said, “These are wickets that are good for batting and that’s the way limited overs cricket is going to be. People do come and watch for how batsmen bat and how good it is for batting. There are a lot of variables to think about as a bowler before assessing what is best for you. You can’t really go into a game thinking what you should be doing and (if you do that), you will struggle.”

Discussing his own bowling, when asked if it is about instinct or preparation for him, especially in the one-day format, Ashwin explained, “I think it’s both. In a lot of ways it is good to forget what’s happened and in certain cases you learn from what’s happened in the past. I think it is a combination of both and it varies from person to person. My bowling is completely instinctive.”

He further added that he enjoys added responsibility and pressure and that’s what keeps it exciting. He also mentioned, “I feel it is a really exciting prospect to do something that is not in your zone probably - bowling in the death or during the powerplay. It gives me added responsibility and I should be enjoying it. Honestly everybody is not going to have the best of the days and we got to really stand up for each other.”

While the bowlers have had tough time in the series so far, India’s fielding too saw a few lapses. Asked if it is a cause for worry, Ashwin replied, “These things do happen. It does affect other fielders when a couple of catches go down and becomes the trend for the day so you can’t really worry about all these things. As long as you are putting in the hard yards, you just have to be okay with it and try and see what we can do best in the next game.”

Speaking about the opponents and the way they have countered India to take a 2-1 lead in the series, and batted especially in the middle overs, the offie said, “The trend of the series is that we have been chasing down big scores. We have chased down 360. The score has predominately been around 300. Any team that has batted first has got around 300. The wickets have favoured the batsmen and it’s definitely been challenging for the bowlers. The batsmen have been going for their shots and taking the right risks. They should be given credit for that. But as I said we need to keep trying to devise different strategies and see what we can do.”

Looking back on the series so far and how precariously placed it is at this juncture, he stated, “It has been a good series so far; it’s been tight and we have just taken the usual practice methods.  There is no pressure as such and we are just going out and enjoying ourselves. This game is going to be crucial so we just want to enjoy ourselves and see where we can take it.”

source: bcci.tv