Ashwin bowling well this morning

[sensible-indian]

Felt Ashwin bowled really well. Last test match too. I knew I saw a difference in him in England. It shows in Australia too. Yes, he needs results to back him up cos at the end of the day results matter but as of now, he looks like he is progressing nicely. Needs to toss it up a bit more outside off instead of on off. Last match he started off well but lost steam. This match too he started off well, lost a bit of steam (in his later spell) but Dhoni smartly took him off and then brought him back after a bit of rest. He was decent then. Really helped Aus from running away to a 300 plus first day score. Still a work in progress. Let's see what happens.

[NameGoesHere]

For penetration Dhoni has Ishant

Yes, but we're talking about the cricket field though.

[vvvslaxman]

India does not have quality spinner to play overseas. Infact none since Anil left. Even Anil took a while. Unless we run into a peach of a bowler we will have to stick with him as others might struggle as well . Nobody is cut above. Everyone is below average like Ashwin.

[kosingh]

India does not have quality spinner to play overseas. Infact none since Anil left. Even Anil took a while. Unless we run into a peach of a bowler we will have to stick with him as others might struggle as well . Nobody is cut above. Everyone is below average like Ashwin.

Agree. That statistic today was ver telling...that Indian spinners have the worst bowling average outside Asia out of all test playing countries. All! That Ashwin is the best among them is almost embarrassing.

[bowl_out]

Ashwin should try some variations... He is too predictable, and his just bowls straight at 85 kmph... He was difficult to score off today coz he bowled reasonably good lines (mostly stump to stump)... Good to contain, but not good enough to take wickets... A carrom ball or quicker one, once in 3-4 overs would have added more spice

[bharat297]

He wasn't trying many variations, but I certainly didn't see him slow It down. Didn't see those revs you are talking about either. All he was bowling was straight harmless balls on an accurate line length. Essentially he was bowling Harbhajan type balls, except that he kept it on off instead of leg stump. As pointed out repeatedly in both the Star commentary box as well as the Channel 9 team, he wasn't even holding the seam in a manner that would help him put more revs on the ball. Aussies are not going to have much trouble with this kind of bowling, although he won't give away too many runs.

He was flighting it up a bit more (which requires slowing it down). That's why Smith was charging down the wicket. The turn wasn't there as much but you could see in the slo-mo replays that he was really ripping the ball. The commentators made a point about that. I think the lack of turn was more to do with the height he was bowling at (generating a bit more overspin) and the nature of the pitch. But the fact that he's really ripping the ball means he is in the best position to exploit the natural variation from the pitch as the match progresses.

[bharat297]

Bear in mind that MCG on Day 1 is not a great pitch for spinners. Only Warne and Kumble (2 all time greats) have had much success on Day 1 at the MCG.

[zep1706]

Ashwin has bowled excellently in this test. His biggest difference has been the realization, something the idiot captain can also learn (although that stage has already passed a long time ago) that you don't need to do a lot of extraordinary things. Just follow the basics of the game. He has bowled his usual off spinners and has not tried his funky variations like he did in the past. I am impressed.

[SLICKR392]

Ashwin should try some variations... He is too predictable' date= and his just bowls straight at 85 kmph... He was difficult to score off today coz he bowled reasonably good lines (mostly stump to stump)... Good to contain, but not good enough to take wickets... A carrom ball or quicker one, once in 3-4 overs would have added more spice

Seriously, buddy? He's doing well here because he hasn't been using his truck load of variations. He's doing good varying the pace and sticking to a length.

[zep1706]

Seriously' date=' buddy? He's doing well here because he hasn't been using his truck load of variations. He's doing good varying the pace and sticking to a length.[/quote'] Completely agree. I so hope that he cements his place in the side. He is an important player because he is a decent bat too.

[Cricket_Hacker]

would have destroyed Australia at Adelaide.Wasnt played :mad:

[bowl_out]

Seriously' date=' buddy? He's doing well here because he hasn't been using his [b']truck load of variations. He's doing good varying the pace and sticking to a length.

Let's not exaggerate. Nobody is referring to a truckload of variation. He was able to contain bowling traditional offies stump to stump. With Joe Burns or Haddin in terrible form, a carrom ball (bowled say once in 3-4 overs) on the same stump to stump line that subtly takes the ball away, has a good chance of taking the outside edge.... Also, with Smith stepping down so often, subtle away spin on the same line would create an element of doubt in the batsman.

[Shivaji bhonsle]

Bowling down the leg side. When did you see him bowl well?

[bharat297]

Let's not exaggerate. Nobody is referring to a truckload of variation. He was able to contain bowling traditional offies stump to stump. With Joe Burns or Haddin in terrible form, a carrom ball (bowled say once in 3-4 overs) on the same stump to stump line that subtly takes the ball away, has a good chance of taking the outside edge.... Also, with Smith stepping down so often, subtle away spin on the same line would create an element of doubt in the batsman.

I agree with that but in order to do that you need to be able to consistently land the ball in the same area over and over again. Ashwin looks like he's improved on the latter. Variations will come in time. There's a balance. 4 years ago, every ball was a variation. Now he is starting to use it sparingly.

[Marut]

Ashwin should try some variations... He is too predictable' date= and his just bowls straight at 85 kmph... He was difficult to score off today coz he bowled reasonably good lines (mostly stump to stump)... Good to contain, but not good enough to take wickets... A carrom ball or quicker one, once in 3-4 overs would have added more spice

What?? His main problem last year was his trying too many variations without sticking to a plan. I am glad that he is now trying to bowl consistently (he was becoming annoying with his variations at one point), and he will be rewarded sooner or later.

[Crookbond]

India does not have quality spinner to play overseas. Infact none since Anil left. Even Anil took a while. Unless we run into a peach of a bowler we will have to stick with him as others might struggle as well . Nobody is cut above. Everyone is below average like Ashwin.

And I believe - it is our biggest impediment to win a Test series abroad. You require spinners who keep the pressure for fast bowlers to be effective. Unfortunately, our spinners aren't good enough for that.

[Lord]

And I believe - it is our biggest impediment to win a Test series abroad. You require spinners who keep the pressure for fast bowlers to be effective. Unfortunately' date=' our spinners aren't good enough for that.[/quote'] yeah even with the old team we started to win only when Kumble improved.Batting is another big factor too

[Crookbond]

yeah even with the old team we started to win only when Kumble improved.Batting is another big factor too

There have been many times when batting has done well only for the bowling to flounder and vice-versa. But, it's just basic to have a spinner who can keep the pressure. One can't build a half decent Test side without that requirement.

[bowl_out]

What?? His main problem last year was his trying too many variations without sticking to a plan. I am glad that he is now trying to bowl consistently (he was becoming annoying with his variations at one point)' date=' and he will be rewarded sooner or later.[/quote'] Can't keep posting the same thing again. Refer to my post #32

[StriKe]

R Ashwin in PC: Planned to get them out quickly. Unfortunately Smith batted very well. They got few more runs than we liked #AusvInd R Ashwin in PC: We think Haddin has a weakness against short ball. Didnt look comfortable to us. We will continue to use it. #AusvInd R Ashwin in PC: 530 is par score for this pitch. Wicket is getting slow. We will take 110/1 n look to pile on runs tomorrow. #AusvInd R Ashwin in PC: Have put in a lot of hard work these 2 days. Been very disciplined. Best overall performance for me personally. #AusvInd R Ashwin in PC: Thought we were okay until last 30-40 min of Aus innings. Were looking to reduce run-scoring but Smith teed off. #AusvInd Chetan Narula @chetannarula · One quote from Steve Smith, talking abt his tail-end partnerships, sums it all up. "I don't think they had an answer for us." #AusvInd https://twitter.com/chetannarula