Ravindra Jadeja leaps to Ashwin’s defence

Ravindra Jadeja stood firmly behind under-fire spinner Ravichandran Ashwin stating that it’s not the responsibility of the Tamil Nadu tweaker alone to get all England wickets.

On the first two days, there wasn’t much help for the spinners from the SCA Stadium track. Ashwin went for 167 runs from 46 overs with only two wickets to show for his efforts as England scored 537 with the help of centuries from Joe Root, Moeen Ali and Ben Stokes.

“We have five bowlers and all five bowlers have the responsibility and not only Ashwin. As it happens sometimes chances go down, it’s all part of the game. Everyone is responsible in equal measure.”

Jadeja had the best figures amongst the five Indian bowlers ending with 3/86 from 30 overs but on the second day got to bowl only nine overs.

Asked about it, the local lad sidestepped the issue.

“That was the captain’s thinking. He must have had his own reasons looking from the team’s point of view. I don’t think it was his plan to deliberately bowl (Ravichandran) Ashwin and (Amit) Mishra more.”

While praising the hundred made by Stokes, he also pointed out that the left-hander was dropped twice by Wriddhiman Saha on individual scores of 60 and 61 respectively.

“He played very well and played according to merit. Initially, he was struggling against Umesh (Yadav), but after that he played calmly. Whenever a catch has been dropped, it has often happened a batsman will go on to score a century.

“Stokes got two chances and then a few fell in no man’s land, but these things are common in cricket.”

Jadeja also felt that losing the toss was crucial here.