The veteran Indian spinner, R Ashwin feels that the Day-night Test is a “move in the right direction”, as he comes in support of his skipper Virat Kohli’s rationale of having five permanent centers for the Test cricket. Ashwin was asked about the ‘Pink Test’ and if he is ready to accept the change with open arms.
When asked about his opinion for the same, Ashwin said, “The pink ball Test match is a great welcoming sign. India as a Test-playing country, it was necessary for us to play the Day-Night Test. The office-going crowd which couldn’t catch Test cricket can now do so.”
But there will be challenges that need to be countered, including extra lacquer, which could be damaging for slow bowlers.
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Ashwin further added, “Obviously, it’s a challenge to play with the pink ball. The ball has a lot more lacquer. Personally I think it’s the right direction we have taken, and hopefully, the Test match will be a historic moment and it will be the start of many more to come.”
Having not played a single match with the pink ball till now, Ashwin is still getting adjusted to the color, which, at times, looks more orange than pink.
The veteran spinner said, “For starters, you can’t sleep at 9 o’clock anymore in the night. Apparently, the game is starting at 1 pm. I’ve never played a pink ball game. I didn’t play the Duleep Trophy that happened a few years ago. I haven’t even bowled a single ball with the pink ball. Obviously I just saw it. I think having played in Kolkata before, it does a lot more in the evening and the pitch is re-laid. It does move a little bit with the white ball so you can imagine what could happen with the pink or orange ball.”
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On having permanent Test venues, Ashwin reckons to have an academic discussion on the topic. He would like to leave it to the administrators to decide whether it was the right or wrong decision.
Ashwin concluded, “The understanding of a particular venue and keeping it that way will help the players. Whether or not that’s the right thing to do is something decision-makers will have to take.”
There was no Jasprit Bumrah but Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, and Umesh Yadav were ruthless and unplayable as Bangladeshi batsmen danced to their tunes and were skittled out for just 150 in the opening Test.
Praising the pacer, Ashwin said, “I think Shami, Ishant, and Umesh have been bowling well as a pack and if you add Bumrah to it over the last few months or a year in Test cricket, I think it’s one of the most lethal pace attacks going around in the world if not the best. It’s right up there and one of the best bowling attacks I have seen in recent times. Sometimes you feel that every spell they bowl, something is happening or they make it happen.”
Ashwin, however, denied that he and Ravindra Jadeja will be changing their approach because the pacers have started taking the lead. He feels that it’s his job to pick up a wicket and try and capitalize if the pacers don’t pick a wicket then get a breakthrough.
