India are in front, says R Ashwin
After piling up 408 in their first innings, India reduced Australia to 211 runs for four at stumps off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin said the visitors had an upper hand going into the third day.
The off-spinner, who also contributed to the team’s cause with a handy score of 35 off 41 balls, said that having the hosts four down and with a sizeable lead of 187 still, India have an upperhand in the Test.
“I think we are in front at this point. If we can have a good session tomorrow, we will have our noses further in front,” he said.
He got the right-handed batsman to heave one to mid-on where Shikhar Dhawan took a diving catch.
Explaining how he planned the dismissal, Ashwin said: “I visualised Watson’s dismissal such that he would flat-bat it straight to mid-off or mid-on or get caught at short leg, because he goes hard and looks to hit the ball straight. I thought I could be a little flatter and quickish and beat him with pace.”
The off-spinner, who also contributed to the team’s cause with a handy score of 35 off 41 balls, said that having the hosts four down and with a sizeable lead of 187 still, India have an upperhand in the Test.
“I think we are in front at this point. If we can have a good session tomorrow, we will have our noses further in front,” he said.
Ashwin, who made way for leg-spinner Karn Sharma in the team for the first Test, started off with a miserly spell of 10-3-18-1, dismissing the dangerous Shane Watson.
He got the right-handed batsman to heave one to mid-on where Shikhar Dhawan took a diving catch.
Explaining how he planned the dismissal, Ashwin said: “I visualised Watson’s dismissal such that he would flat-bat it straight to mid-off or mid-on or get caught at short leg, because he goes hard and looks to hit the ball straight. I thought I could be a little flatter and quickish and beat him with pace.”
