India vs Australia | Adelaide pitch slower than expected, reveals Ravichandran Ashwin
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Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has stated that though he was not surprised with the slowness of the pitch he also suggested that he expected it to play a tad faster. The first Test match between India and Australia seems to be well poised after the first two days of play concluded.
After India ceded advantage on the first day of the first Test match of the Test series against Australia they came right back into the match with a disciplined bowling performance. Ravichandran Ashwin led the Indian bowling unit by taking three crucial wickets and giving away just 50 runs in 33 overs. Apart from Ashwin, Ishant Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah too came good with two wickets each.Â
“Adelaide generally offers a bit of spin but looking at the grass that was there yesterday, we didn’t think we will get the little bit of hold we are getting. There is a bit of hold in the wicket but it is not something that is considerable or vicious or anything like that. It is slowing the ball down at the surface. Not really surprised but I think it was slower than we expected it to play,” Ashwin told reporters after the match.
Australia finished the second day 59 runs behind the Indian total at 191/7 in 88 overs. Yesterday, the Indian top order except Cheteshwar Pujara perished early thus giving jitters to the Indian fans who worried that a similar performance to the England tour will be on show in Australia too by the Indian team. But they recovered on time courtesy the Indian bowling unit.
Ashwin also spoke about how he is uncertain about the wicket and its behaviour. He also avoided making any predictions stating that it was a drop-in wicket and he had no idea as to how these kinds of wickets behave after a few days of play.
“I thought there was more stickiness yesterday and the speed has definitely come down when we were batting yesterday, I don’t think it was as slow as it was today, I felt the wicket has slowed down considerably and I don’t expect it to quicken up more either. It is going to be slower and slower I think,” he added.
“I really don’t how much it is going to deteriorate or what is going to happen, it is a drop in wicket at the end of the day; I don’t know how much a drop-in wicket deteriorates but because of the amount of grass, I don’t see the marks widening as much as it did the last time. But we will have to wait and watch,” he said.
With the game heading to the third day, it is wide open with India having that ever do slight advantage which can disappear with one bad hour of play. Ashwin too seemed to suggest the same.
“I see it as neck and neck as far as the game goes right now. Whoever gets the momentum from here on will have an edge in this Test match. I think it is extremely well poised and every run is going to be gold dust from here on,” he added.
