Ashwin underlines batting potential

[vvvslaxman]

http://www.espncricinfo.com/india-v-west-indies-2013-14/content/story/686883.html Ashwin underlines batting potential Sidharth Monga at Eden Gardens November 8, 2013 Rohit Sharma's 177 is the highest score by a No. 6 Test debutant. There is a reason why No. 6 debutants don't register such big scores. To bat long even as they fight first-Test nerves, they invariably have to manoeuvre the innings with the tail. It involves farming the strike, which calls for both confidence and the calculated risk to keep scoring. You end up getting out or are left stranded when batting with the tail. Except Rohit didn't have to bat with the tail. His partner for India's record seventh-wicket partnership of 280 - from 156 for 6 - was almost a proper batsman. There was no need to look after R Ashwin. As a Test batsman, he has looked more assured and solid than some of the replacements India have tried for Sourav Ganguly. Ashwin's overall average is better than that of Suresh Raina and Yuvraj Singh, and on India's disastrous tour of Australia he was arguably India's most consistent batsman. He already has more centuries than Raina, and is only one behind Yuvraj. Ashwin works hard on his batting, and he has the requisite skill to be working on. Unlike India's other bowler-batsmen who have always relied on a few big - and risky - shots at the start before settling down, Ashwin faces the bowling with the mindset of a batsman. He might not get enough time to work on the batting because his offspin is of much more value to India, but he takes a lot of pride in his contribution with the bat. Sans the allrounder label, though. "Honestly I don't expect to be called anything at all," Ashwin said. "I'm just doing my job, and I'd like to do what I do the best. I'd like to improve all the time." Against England at the same venue last year, Ashwin had similarly ended a day's play close to a century but failed to get there. That memory, he said, didn't give him a nervous sleepless night. "I slept really well," Ashwin said. "I thought, 'Okay, it's just a number.' I had been here, I was 91 not out the last time [at the end of the innings]. I had a good batsman at the other end so I knew I could probably complete my century. I was very pleased with what I did yesterday, probably a little more pleased today that I got a century." Ashwin has been to the three figures previously, too, against the same opposition in Mumbai. He admitted that previous century was just a bit of a lark, and this one was the real deal. "The last time I got a hundred I had nothing to think about, I was just enjoying myself," Ashwin said. "But this time it was quite different. We were in a lot of trouble. We were in trouble there as well, but I didn't have anything to lose. Here we could have lost the game from there. I just thought I'd stick it out and see how much difference there could be. Just put on a partnership and hang in there." It helped that Ashwin was batting with one of his favourite batsmen. "Personally I'm a very big fan of Rohit," Ashwin said. " :nervous: He has always batted very high in the order and I never got a chance to bat with him. This is his Test debut here... and I just went out there and thought, 'Okay, if he has a good day and I could stick together there could be a partnership together.' We enjoyed our time out together. It's very important to communicate with each other and we had a great time." MS Dhoni was thankful for Ashwin's contribution. "I think if you see, nowadays the way cricket is played, if Nos 8, 9 and 11 can contribute, that becomes a key factor, to have partnerships lower down the order," he said. "I think he batted really well. He can bat like a batsman, and proved it at the Test level. It was good to see the way he batted. He was positive, played his shots and at the same time got a partnership going with Rohit. I think he batted extremely well."

[vvvslaxman]

More ROhit fans. joining R*S* club

[Pagalpanti]

Honestly his batting has shown more potential than his bowling He'll still be a handful of a bowler in SC conditions but somehow his pace is too slow for places like SA/Aus/Eng(in tests pitches wont be like CT)

[Cricketics]

I hope we don't make him like a Pakistani makeshift all rounder who end up having their career over when they start doing the other thing well. Let him concentrate on bowling and don't promote him ever to bat early so that he knows why he is there in the team. We don't want to make him like Sohail Tanveer, Fawad Alam types who start as bowler and score a century and then they would feel they can make it in the team as a batsman who is one of the better bowler in the team. I would take him as a bowler who can bat a bity any day.

[vvvslaxman]

I hope we don't make him like a Pakistani makeshift all rounder who end up having their career over when they start doing the other thing well. Let him concentrate on bowling and don't promote him ever to bat early so that he knows why he is there in the team. We don't want to make him like Sohail Tanveer, Fawad Alam types who start as bowler and score a century and then they would feel they can make it in the team as a batsman who is one of the better bowler in the team. I would take him as a bowler who can bat a bity any day.

Only difference is he has bagful of wickets and top 10 ICC ranked test bowler. He sure has lot of scope for improvement. But he has ingredients to be a successful offie around the world. He won't go Irfan's way. All we have to do is keep playing him at no.8. No promotion whatsoever.

[Lord]

Only difference is he has bagful of wickets and top 10 ICC ranked test bowler. He sure has lot of scope for improvement. But he has ingredients to be a successful offie around the world. He won't go Irfan's way. All we have to do is keep playing him at no.8. No promotion whatsoever.

he can be at 7 with Jaddu at 8 in Indian conditions

[fineleg]

Bhajji vs ashwin batting wise, does bhajji have better batting record in away tours? Or all of bhajji 50s and 100s at home?

[vvvslaxman]

Bhajji vs ashwin batting wise' date=' does bhajji have better batting record in away tours? Or all of bhajji 50s and 100s at home?[/quote'] Ashwin is more closer to a frontline batsman than Bhajji. At time Bhajji looked like an exact 9,10, jack. At times he plays like a useful slogging all rounder.

[Ram]

Jadeja and Ashwin at no.8 and no.9 in test matches makes us an extremely formidable force at home (not that we were not before, but this just cements that standing).

[Lord]

Jadeja and Ashwin at no.8 and no.9 in test matches makes us an extremely formidable force at home (not that we were not before' date=' but this just cements that standing).[/quote'] rather have them at 7 and 8 and Bhuvi at 9.allows us to play 5 bowlers

[Ram]

rather have them at 7 and 8 and Bhuvi at 9.allows us to play 5 bowlers

5 bowlers maybe required abroad, but at home, 4 bowlers (2 spin + 2 pace) is more than adequate to bowl out opposition. (unless of course we have 3 spinners who are so good that it is foolish to keep them out of the playing XI. But that has rarely been the case.

[nanda14792]

ashwin (ind) = faulkner (aus)

[Lord]

5 bowlers maybe required abroad' date=' but at home, 4 bowlers (2 spin + 2 pace) is more than adequate to bowl out opposition. (unless of course we have 3 spinners who are so good that it is foolish to keep them out of the playing XI. But that has rarely been the case.[/quote'] that maybe true against poor sides like WI,but against better sides 5th bowler comes in handy.we missed that in England series

[sivanand82]

Jadeja and Ashwin at no.8 and no.9 in test matches makes us an extremely formidable force at home (not that we were not before' date=' but this just [b']cements that standing).

India Cements? :giggle:

[Ram]

that maybe true against poor sides like WI' date='but against better sides 5th bowler comes in handy.we missed that in England series[/quote'] Hmm, remind me again as to what happened against England. I don’t think it was a question of quantity [of the bowlers]. The issue was more on quality [both of our bowlers and our batsmen] We have dominated at home 20 yeards, we have never had to play 5 bowlers to do that.

[ShebbySB]

We're lucky to have Ash at 8 & BK at 9..........gives us tremendous depth.

[Zanjeer]

Ok.let's not get over excited and jump the gun here. He is ok batsman and he would hold one end up. I'd put him with the likes of Barbie Gillespie, agarkar etc.. Not more than that.

[Lord]

Hmm' date=' remind me again as to what happened against England. I don’t think it was a question of quantity [of the bowlers']. The issue was more on quality [both of our bowlers and our batsmen] We have dominated at home 20 yeards, we have never had to play 5 bowlers to do that.

thats because Kumble was so good.we dont have anyone like that now

[Texan]

He's always had the ability to bat reasonably well. What he sometimes shows a lack of is temperament.

[Ram]

thats because Kumble was so good.we dont have anyone like that now

Name me any dominant team, from any era, that played 5 specialist bowlers.