'Holding role is not my strength' - Ashwin

[zaqw222222]

Ahead of his first tour of England, R Ashwin has said he wants to revert to being an attacking bowler. Ashwin said the team management had used him in a holding role in previous overseas Tests, and said this wasn't his strength. "I had a chat with a couple of people who have done well in England," Ashwin told the Hindustan Times. "A few interesting things have come out of it. Bowling in a way that they have been doing takes practice. I need to see if it is working for me and find ways to take wickets. "There have been times where the team wanted me to hold an end up, which is not my strength. I would like to get back to my strength and start spinning the ball really hard and get batsmen out. In terms of strategy, I have a couple in my mind which I'll be working on." Ashwin hasn't tasted too much success away from home so far, with only nine wickets in four Tests at an average of 74.77. After a wicketless first Test in South Africa, Ashwin was dropped, with Ravindra Jadeja replacing him for the second Test and remaining in the side as the only specialist spinner for the two Tests in New Zealand. "There are various factors that determine performance, some of which, like luck, aren't in my hand," Ashwin said. "I have been working very hard on whatever is in my hand. Apart from hard work, I think patience is also required." Ashwin's overseas struggles led Sunil Subramaniam, his former mentor, to criticise him in the media. Asked about this, Ashwin said he didn't know what led to the breakdown of relations between them. "I think a coach must communicate with the player first," he said. "I don't know where we fell out. He was someone who was helping me. Whenever I needed help, I hired him. But with the tight international calendar, you don't get the time to go back to someone and the drawing board. I don't know where it comes from and you don't know who needs the publicity." India haven't won a Test match away from home since that 2011 England tour, in which they lost the Test series 4-0. Ashwin said this wasn't playing on his mind. "A lot of new guys have come in the team after the 2011 debacle. So that way it is going to be a fresh start," he said. "Besides, the experience of players like Gautam Gambhir will be really handy. As a whole, it is a great challenge. I am very optimistic."

Source : http://www.espncricinfo.com/india/content/story/750167.html?CMP=chrome

[Bleed-Blue]

Come on Ashwin it is time to deliver.. Less of the talk more of the performance

[G_B_]

I am inclined to go with Ash in England.

[Lord]

we shouldnt expected an immediate success with our spinners overseas.It'll take time.Ashwin I feel should be given atleast 3 Tests in England series

[undisputed chap]

Hope he really ups his game orhe will be dropped from the aus tour & preferrably from wc squad

[Rotating Potato]

So we getting over umesh's exclusion, are we? Moving past and all.

[vvvslaxman]

Dhoni always lets the teams score big and blame the bowlers. If oou analyze it further you could understand how Dhoni's defensive approach hurts bowlers confidence as well. Leg stump line packed with legside fifelderrs. High time he lets the bowlers decide their own field sets so that they can bowl a comfortable line and length. This tactic of buying wickets through defensive field set will not allow bowlers to hit their natural line, length.

[rkt.india]

So we getting over umesh's exclusion' date=' are we? Moving past and all.[/quote'] nothing we can do about it.

[Rotating Potato]

nothing we can do about it.

We can always boycott it. Or better spam the social media about boycotting but actually watching it.

[Austin 3:!6]

What does he mean when he says "revert to being an attacking bowler". So is he saying that he was bowling for contempt in recent past?

[SLICKR392]

About time.

[Gollum]

All thanks to Dhoni.

[Scarves]

All on the captain. I mean if Clarke or McCullum used Ashwin they would try to attack as you can see with Lyon and Sodhi. Dhoni, Cook and Smith used their spinner as a holding role and that's why Ashwin hasn't been effective overseas because defensive tactics and fields set by Dhoni. He can be quite effective if given a chance to attack.

[Austin 3:!6]

All thanks to Dhoni.

:hysterical:

[Vilander]

What is he referring to be 'held' ? :hmmm:

[putrevus]

He needs yap less and perform.He was given 440 plus runs and he could not get one single wicket. It has got nothing to do with Dhoni or anyone other than him being inept.Hope he improves but watching recent matches it does not look like he can improve.

[bulbul]

What is he referring to be 'held' ? :hmmm:

Ball

[Straight Drive]

Took him years to realize that negative line doesn't works for a bowler in getting wickets. :giggle:

[Bleed-Blue]

Took him years to realize that negative line doesn't works for a bowler in getting wickets. :giggle:

At least he is learning unlike ishant:giggle:

[JaiRamesh2]

Talk talk talk First at least perform and then talk. Betrays lack of belief and confidence when he opens his mouth even before delivers any hint of success. This is not the first time he has done this.