‘We have a lot of positives from match' says Ravichandran Ashwin

He did well individually in the first Test against England in Birmingham and thinks India had a lot of positives to pick from the game even if they lost it by 31 runs. Ravichandran Ashwin, the off-spinner whose place was thought to be under pressure with the arrival of young spinners took seven wickets in the game to silence his critics who doubt his ability overseas.

A confident-looking Ashwin, the bowler with the heaviest Test kitty among the Indians on this tour who was also the most successful in the first Test for the tourists. Interacting with the media after the conclusion of the match he said the contest was quite a see-saw battle and felt that there was enough for the fast bowlers on the wicket.

“The bowlers were always in the game and you do expect the batters to get ball that has their names on them. With that sort of a game edging on the balance, we thought we did … well in the game,” the senior bowler said.

Ashwin backs India’s overseas performance

Ashwin added that there were things to feel upbeat about in the game and where he felt India did well. “Not feeling completely defeated,” he said. He also backed India’s recent performance overseas saying they were able to pull off some “incredible” victories. He though said India would have to pull off something special at some stage if they were to win the five-Test series in England.

The 31-year-old showed that he was in a light mood despite his team’s loss the game by cracking a joke over superstitions in the team’s dressing room. He said he was feeling confident when Virat Kohli and Dinesh Karthik walked out to resume India’s pursuit for 194 and said the first blow was crucial.

Karthik didn’t last long on Day 4, falling to James Anderson in the first over. Ashwin himself came out at No. 6 in the second innings but could not manage more than 13. In the first innings, he came out at No. 8 and fell for 10.

The off-spinner’s finest moments in the match when he castled English opener Alastair Cook twice in almost identical deliveries. He took 4 for 62 in the first innings and backed it up with 3 for 59 in the second.

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