Ashwin slams double standards of outrage against Indian pitches

India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin on Thursday questioned all those who are critical of Indian pitches offering substantial turn asking why no one raises a question when an Ashes Test at Trent bridge ends in just a shade over two days.

The feisty off-spinner also did not forget to take a dig at the South African tracks like the one in Johannesburg where he did not get any purchase from a fifth day track back in December 2013. “I did not complain after Johannesburg (Test). I was dropped for a year after that. And, I am not going to complain playing here. There’s no reason why I should have complaints. Swing, seam and bounce for two days at Trent Bridge (referring to Ashes)- match over. I don’t know what that’s about,” Ashwin could not hide his sarcasm when asked about South African batsmen being greeted with turning tracks.

The Tamil Nadu tweaker said that learning to play spin also requires skill. “What is the problem about spin and bounce It is good to have even spin and bounce, isn’t it It’s about skills for batsmen to play and counter it,” Ashwin put forth his viewpoint. “Fortunately or unfortunately, I don’t have the rights over the groundsman, to say over what kind of pitch he needs to prepare. Once that’s done, it is my job to go out and play,” said Ashwin, who picked his second five-wicket haul in the series.

Ashwin also did not seem amused by the fact that focus of discussion during the Test series has been the nature of tracks.

“The talks about the pitch are getting out of hand. That’s straight from my heart, you can beg to differ with me. There are enough good cricketers from both sides that you can talk about,” he shot back. Ashwin, who has been the scourge of the South African batsmen right through the series, said that the two wickets he got this morning swung the game in India’s favour.