Ashwin has been the difference between the two sides: SA asst. coach

With the fourth Test match between the two sides starting at the Feroz Shah Kotla on December 3, South African assistant coach Adrian Birrell heaped praise on the Indian off-spinner Ashwin and singled him out as the reason for the Proteas’ series loss.

“Ashwin has been the difference between the two sides. He bowls tight lines, and doesn’t give away bad balls. It’s difficult to score runs off him. At the moment, he is on top of his game,” Birrell said in the press conference..

When asked about South Africa’s preparations for the dead rubber at Kotla, Birrel responded by saying, "We are here to fight." "I like Hashim's words - win or lose you need to put up an honourable fight. That was the case in this last Test and we'll put up an honourable fight again in this Test. The guys are determined to put in a good performance," Birrell added.

Birrell also distanced the Proteas from the controversy surrounding the pitch at Nagpur. "We are not complaining. We are playing in India and we are playing in India's conditions, “he said.

“We are playing in India so we expect the pitches to turn. This one looks like it will go more than three days. We are happy with what we see," he said, when asked about the pitch at Kotla.