By Chetan NarulaCenturion, Jan 13 (PTI) R Ashwin said failure to deliverfor his team in the past hit his pride and hoped his three-wicket haul on day one was enough to keep India afloat in thesecond Test against South Africa here.
On a day when the seamers failed to make much of a denton a easy-paced wicket, Ashwin took 3-90 as the hosts finishedday one at 269 for 6 at stumps.
"I like to think I have kept us in the game. It couldhave so easily been a game where they could have run away withit after the second session. I like to believe I was justdogged enough," Ashwin said after the day's play.
"I play (only) Test cricket now and I get a lot of breakin between. So might as well be ready when I get anopportunity. So, there is no reason to unfasten the seat belt,you are always on," he said, about his preparation for thetour, after not featuring for India in limited-overs' cricketsince July.
Ashwin had been subject to a lot of criticism in the paston account of his overseas record. He had gone wicket-less inthe Johannesburg Test in 2013, as India had failed to win froman advantageous position on day five.
"It was a reality check in terms of not being able to wina Test match for the country on day five when all things wereactually set up for a spinner. It was kind of hit on myprofessional pride and from there on I knew I had to work oncertain things," he said.
"Obviously when you don't take wickets you don't get bullheaded and believe things will get better from next time. I amnot made that way atleast," said Ashwin, about his previoustour here.
Ashwin said he worked on his bowling and hoped to emergeas a better bowler after this series.
"I worked on making my action a lot more repeatable and Iworked on the wrist position at time of release. I also addeda few things up my repertoire and used my wrist a lot morewhen I bowl," he said.
"I used my palm more when I bowl the flipper, etc.
Obviously these things have combined over the last few yearsand I have had a great time over the last 2-3 years.
"I am just taking the confidence forward and I am tryingto get better as the day goes and by the end of this series Iwill be a far better bowler than what I started," he added.
Ashwin said that he had moved on and improved his bowlingto be able to make a difference this time around.
Additionally, he credited the county stint withWorcestershire for aiding him in this process.
"The one thing I have comfortably done is to convenientlyforget the history about South Africa. I am well over it and Iwant to put it behind me and stride ahead forward," he said.
"I think my experience of going to England and playinghelped because this has been a sort of wicket which you getthere especially where I played, at New Road, where it'spretty flat.
"One ball jumps occasionally and goes flat for a prettylong time. My first-class teammates would advice that I haveto develop a lot of patience and hearing those things fromthem was definitely a reality check for me. I have gonethrough a massive ride over the last eight months and I am inphase of life where I really want to enjoy my cricket."Ashwin said the team management had even thought of goingwith an all-seam attack at one stage.
"Two days from the game it looked like we are going toplay an all-seam attack. And then when we walked into theground yesterday, it was white in colour and the grass wascoming off," he said.
"All of a sudden I really had to pull myself back andthink I am in the game now. Today morning when we came to theground, it looked like a wicket that was really flat and hadto have a spinner in the game."South Africa were comfortably placed at 246/3 at onestage. Ashwin bowled a long spell during the first twosessions, and kept India in contention.
He said that it was hard work for the bowlers because thepitch didn't have anything for the pacers.
"Actually I wanted to try and change angles a lot more.
There was hardly anything for the fast bowlers at all. If atall there was something, we were trying to get some reverseswing going and try and probably get a few catches in front ofthe wicket.
"Those are the kind of plans we were thinking but as aspinner I had very little opportunities to try, very littlepockets to try. If you got a wicket then for the next 2-3overs you could try a little bit and put attacking fields andchange up," he said.
Explaining his strategy, Ashwin said: "When Amla andMarkram, those kind of partnerships were going I was a littlereluctant to go from over and round the stumps and changeangles. Because at the end of the day, I think I had a bit ofcushion there to try all those things.
"Within my mind, this was probably one of the relaxeddays of my cricket career. I wasn't really thinking too muchand delivering the ball. My only intent was to try and keep itin a particular spot. Try and deliver from different positionsin the crease, and I was really enjoying it," he added.
Then, Hardik Pandya's spell changed everything, duringwhich he affected two run-outs while Ashwin got rid of Quintonde Kock for a golden duck.
"I think this was a good last session for us. Because Ifeel those wickets – two run outs, which were extraordinarywork by Hardik and bit of luck for us – in the last sessionare very valid incentive for the team going into day two." PTIATKATK.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.