PTI
Basseterre (St Kitts), July 14: India’s main spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has said that his team will look to come hard at the West Indies batsmen in the first innings and knock them over early during the four-Test series starting July 21 at Antigua.
“From the way the opposition played in the last match, it gave me the picture that they are pretty much used to the conditions. They had a plan to tackle me,” Ashwin was quoted as saying by ‘bcci tv’
“Over the last year or two they have played really well in the first innings, so that is going to be a challenge for us to try and really be boring and come hard at them in that period and knock them over early and be as disciplined as possible. The first innings is going to be very important in the Test matches,” he added.
The off-spinner, who was rested during the first warm-up game against WICB President’s XI, said that the slow tracks in the Caribbean will be a big challenge for the spinners and he is ready to bowl ‘boring lines all day’ during the series.
“It is going to be challenging because of the kind of heat and wicket that are being used. It would be important to quickly adapt to the conditions. I am sure I will have to be prepared for a long haul and be as boring as possible, chugging away all day long,” Ashwin pointed out.
Talking about the West Indies batting line-up, Ashwin stated that they looked pretty good on paper. “They have gone for all-rounders. It will be interesting to see what sort of strategy they adopt for the Test series. We have a good bowling attack and it is just about one breakthrough. I am sure we can do that,” asserted the off-spinner.
“But we have to be patient and bowl a tight length and line. All the bowlers will have to be patient and keep pressure on the opposition batsman,” added the offie.
Ashwin, who has scored two hundreds and six fifties in 32 Tests, said he has really worked hard on his batting and will be looking to contribute with the willow also.
“Our batting coach Sanjay (Bangar) has helped me a lot. We have worked hard at the nets. The first and foremost thing is not to give away my wicket cheaply. If I stay at the middle runs will automatically come,” Ashwin informed.
