India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin hits back at criticism of third Test pitch after England’s defeat

India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin hits back at criticism of Ahmedabad pitch after England’s 10-wicket defeat, insisting it was influenced by pink ball conditions and that complaints are from those who ‘do not understand this facet of the game’

  • England lost to India inside two days in day-night Test at Ahmedabad
  • Tourists fell for just 112 in the first innings and 81 in the second in 10 wicket loss 
  • Many blamed the incredibly quick defeat on the state of the pitch 
  • However, Ravichandran Ashwin believes the pink ball played more of a factor

Batting collapses are a routine affair in pink-ball tests and the trend will continue until batsmen get used to the novelty, India‘s spin spearhead Ravichandran Ashwin said on Saturday.

India won the third test inside two days after 30 wickets tumbled in five sessions on a turning track in Ahmedabad. England collapsed for 81 in their second innings, and neither side reached 150 runs in the match.

In their previous day-night test three years ago, England were bundled out for 58 by New Zealand, while India wilted for a record-low of 36 in their last pink-ball match in Australia in December.

India’s Ravichandran Ashwin claims the incredibly low scores in the third Test was more down to the pink ball than the conditions of the Ahmedabad pitch

‘If you look at the larger picture of test cricket, you might say these are just one-off occasions, but these are regular affairs in pink-ball tests,’ Ashwin told a video conference on what would have been day four of the third test.

‘Everybody has been conditioned to playing with the red ball and now all of a sudden they’ve brought in the pink ball, and the pink ball is bringing in new dimensions to the game.

‘It’s about adapting. You play more and more and obviously get used to it. The players are going to adapt better.’

The off-spinner compared it with how players adjusted to the white ball in limited-overs cricket.

‘Initially the white ball was doing a lot more, now it literally does nothing. So that’s how this format will also evolve. Anything new is going to throw a lot of challenges, but that’s the beauty of the sport.’

Joe Root (left, with Chris Silverwood back in November) saw his side bowled out for just 112 and 81 during the third Test in their tour of India

Joe Root (left, with Chris Silverwood back in November) saw his side bowled out for just 112 and 81 during the third Test in their tour of India

Several former England players questioned the suitability of the Ahmedabad pitch after the test ended within two days, but Ashwin said it was all about the ball.

‘What about all the three pink-ball test matches that we played – every one has ended within three days time?

‘When somebody throws an opinion out there about a surface, maybe they haven’t played the pink-ball test matches, so they do not understand this facet of the game,’ he said.

‘I don’t see any of the players coming in from England having an issue with the surface. What makes a good surface? Who defines this? Seam on the first day, then bat well, then spin on the last two days? Come on, who makes all these rules? We need to get over it.’

Ahmedabad also hosts the fourth and final test from Thursday.