'Commentary became a diss about Indian bowlers': R Ashwin wants focus on batters not scoring 'daddy hundreds'

Sports Tak

Sports Tak

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'Commentary became a diss about Indian bowlers': R Ashwin wants focus on batters not scoring 'daddy hundreds'
Ravichandran Ashwin of India reacts after dismissing Mitch Marsh of Australia during day two of the Men's Test Match series between Australia and India at Adelaide Oval on December 07, 2024 in Adelaide, Australia.

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R Ashwin wants batters to take up more responsibility.

Ashwin feels India's tailenders cannot contribute with the bat.

Ashwin wants Indian bowlers to focus on controlling England batters' scoring rate.

After an appalling defeat to England in the first Test, former Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has condemned commentators for taking a swipe only at the bowlers. He said that experts and commentators immediately turned their focus only on the bowlers, while the batters failed to shore up India’s totals to above-average scores on batting-friendly wickets in both innings. 

Captain Shubman Gill’s 147 was the highest score of the five centuries India recorded while putting up 471 and 364-run totals. Despite this, India became the first side to lose a Test after five centuries.

He felt that once 370 was chased down (in the first Test), the commentary became a diss about the Indian bowlers. A narrative was built implying how Indian bowlers failed to win the match.

“Batters should take up responsibility. I know batsmen are making runs. Yes, we had five centurions, but where are the daddy hundreds? We have to resign to the fact that there would be no contribution (with the bat) from the lower order. Our fast bowlers cannot bat, they cannot muster runs,” Ashwin said.

 

 

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Ashwin wants England's scoring rate curbed

In his opinion, maidens are quite underrated. Further, he emphasised that Indian bowlers apart from Jasprit Bumrah must focus on controlling the scoring rate rather than going for wickets and leaking runs.

"In Tests, you have to build your bowling gradually from Day 1, and the rewards will come in the final innings", Ashwin highlighted.

 

 

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“If you give away a lot of runs in the first innings, you tend to get conservative to stem the flow, and you won’t get wickets in this approach. If I was Morkel, I would tell the other bowlers not to do much since Bumrah is there. As the old saying goes, bowl three maidens, and you will get a wicket. Don’t you think a wicket would fall after three maidens in a row against this England side? Against this side, if you are giving two runs an over, it is as good as bowling a maiden,” he added.