R Ashwin said failure to deliver for his team in the past hit his pride and hoped his three-wicket haul on Day One was enough to keep India afloat in the second Test against South Africa here on Saturday
R Ashwin
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R Ashwin said failure to deliver for his team in the past hit his pride and hoped his three-wicket haul on Day One was enough to keep India afloat in the second Test against South Africa here on Saturday. On a day when the seamers failed to make much of a dent on a easy-paced wicket, Ashwin took 3-90 as the hosts finished day one at 269 for six at stumps. "I like to think I have kept us in the game. It could have so easily been a game where they could have run away with it after the second session. I like to believe I was just dogged enough," Ashwin said after the day's play.
"I play (only) Test cricket now and I get a lot of break in between. So might as well be ready when I get an opportunity. So, there is no reason to unfasten the seat belt, you are always on," he said, about his preparation for the tour, after not featuring for India in limited-overs' cricket since July. Ashwin had been subject to a lot of criticism in the past on account of his overseas record. He had gone wicket-less in the Johannesburg Test in 2013, as India had failed to win from an advantageous position on day five. "It was a reality check in terms of not being able to win a Test match for the country on Day Five when all things were actually set up for a spinner. It was kind of hit on my professional pride and from there on I knew I had to work on certain things," he said.
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