R Ashwin slams media spotlight on wicket

India off-spinner R. Ashwin on Friday ridiculed the media attention on the pitch for the first Test, saying most of the batsmen got out by playing bad shots.

After India were bundled for 201 in the first innings, Ashwin made sure with his 13th five-wicket haul that the hosts take a narrow 17-run lead over South Africa.

“I think it’s the batting that makes the wicket look what it is. I don’t know if any Indian journalist knows the name of the curator in Johan-nesburg, Port Elizabeth, but we seem to get a hang of Daljit Singh very quickly,” Ashwin told reporters after the end of second day play.

“None of us go to South Africa and say the wicket is green. The grass is less green at the bottom and stuff like that. I don’t hear any such statements. But unfortunately here the first day some of my good friends came and said the wicket is a little drier. We have played way too long in Mohali to know how the wicket works.

“I was very surprised with some of the shots which we played in the first innings. But putting that aside I think (Hashim) Amla’s ball was a very good one. Elgar, I have seen him bat.. had a wonderful time in watching him on Youtube last night. He has done that a lot at Johannesburg. I made it a point to tell him it’s not Johannesburg. I thought it coming, I knew he is going to play that shot,” said Ashwin.