Ashwin 'felt like a chicken out of the box'
All-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin insisted India will remain competitive throughout the remainder of the fourth Test against England, despite slipping to a mere 152 all out on day one at Old Trafford in Manchester on Thursday.
All-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin insisted India will remain competitive throughout the remainder of the fourth Test against England, despite slipping to a mere 152 all out on day one at Old Trafford in Manchester on Thursday.
Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni's decision to bat first after winning the toss, as fast bowlers Stuart Broad and James Anderson shared nine wickets to reduce the tourists to eight for four – and later 129 for seven.
"There have been times in the Ranji Trophy when teams have made a similar start. Mumbai were zero for five at one stage if I remember and then they went on to win," said Ashwin.
"So, I am personally drawing inspiration from that and I believe we are still in the game. I am just disappointed that I threw away my wicket because maybe I could have scored more runs."
India's XI brought three changes in the wake of weak defeat in the third Test at the Rose Bowl in Southampton last week. The veteran Gautam Gambhir and fast bowler Varun Aaron replaced the out-of-form Shikhar Dhawan and seamer Mohammed Shami respectively, while Ashwin was picked ahead of batsman Rohit Sharma.
The right-handed Ashwin offered some staunch defiance en route to a brisk 40 from 42 deliveries, striking three fours and a six – and shared a key 66-run alliance with Dhoni.
"I don't know how I feel about getting back again in the side. But when I went out to bat, I felt like a chicken out of the box. I was very scratchy when my innings started and the ball was doing too much," added Ashwin.
"So, I just tried to stick in there for a while and see what happens. But I am disappointed with the way I got out. I have only myself to blame for that. If we had more runs we could have put more pressure on them."
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