Ashwin breaks overseas jinx

R. Ashwin in action during the last day’s play. (Photo: AP)

India’s off-spinner R. Ashwin, whose bowling masterclass of 7/83 enabled the visitors to record an emphatic win against the West Indies, is happy that he has been finally able to break the deadlock of getting a coveted ‘five-for’ outside the sub-continent.

“It has taken me five years to repeat (record) this feat (five wickets in an innings) outside the sub-continent, that is something I always wanted to break.

“Getting a five-wicket haul away from sub-continent is something I have worked earnestly towards and I am really pleased for myself,” Ashwin told to the bcci.tv.

Having emulated Ian Botham, who scored a hundred and recorded a seven-wicket haul in a Test match, the Tamil Nadu off-break bowler said that he would cherish the game for years to come.

“It was a very memorable game for me. I shared a great partnership with Virat. Wonderful to get a hundred and also getting a five-wicket haul.

“It’s one of those games, which I will be cherishing for a very very long time,” said the man, who now has 183 wickets and 1317 runs from 33 games.

The 29-year-old, who scored fantastic 113 in the first innings said was pleasantly surprised when the skipper Virat Kohli asked him to bat at number 6.

“To be batting at no. 6 was a complete surprise for me.

Virat told me on the morning of the match and I really liked what he said. He told me “We trust you and want you to bat at no. 6 and see how it works,” said Ashwin.

Ashwin become the first Indian to score a century and pick up a five-wicket haul on two occasions in Tests.

The exponent of carrom-ball felt that the presence of head coach Anil Kumble has helped him to bowl longer spells.

“In the first innings, I went wicketless for about 25-25 over’s that I bowled in the match. In the past, that would have definitely troubled me as I am a bowler who likes to keep getting wickets. I kept speaking to him (Kumble) about what I was doing right and what I wasn’t,” he said.

“I was constantly in touch with him (Kumble) also about what is the right speed to be bowling. He gave me different ideas about what lines I can bowl to the batsmen. It is about the knack of getting wickets and it is a good that we shared wickets today,” he added.

Ashwin said he was pleased to bat at no. 6 as it provides him better opportunity in batting.

“Batting at no. 6 there is always more opportunities to get a hundred than at no. 8. I have started really well on that. Batting at six, I have managed to get a five-for as well so I hope I go from strength to strength from here on.