R Ashwin reveals working on new bowling strategies

Ravichandran Ashwin (L) of India celebrates with Virat Kohli (R) after taking the wicket of Joe during the ICC Champions Trophy Final match between England and India at Edgbaston on June 23, 2013 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

Among the recent achievements of Indian cricket, bowling sensation R Ashwin has played a very important part. When Bhuvneshwar Kumar starts hunting through his impeccable swing on one end, Ashwin usually takes charge from the other end. He always fully utilises his spin, and very often ties up batsmen with his variety.

In today’s edition of the prestigious newspaper The Hindu, Ashwin has spoken about the strategy he is working on, as well as his dedicated efforts towards constant improvisation. He believes in identifying a batsman’s weakness and exploiting it. He also observes a batsman’s strength sharply and works towards blocking the same. India’s effective off-spinner discussed his tactics and said that the key was to impart revolutions on the ball and get it to dip.

For example, Ashwin explained about his typical strategy for Chris Gayle. If Gayle is denied width and room, he would attempt to hit a spinner straight down the ground. Ashwin said, “If you toss one up and draw him into a stroke and then pull it back a little because of the revolutions on the ball, instead of clearing either long-on or long-off, he could be caught at mid-off or mid-on.”

Sometimes, it can be hard for a bowler when a batsman goes fully forward or sits deep within his crease. Ashwin said, “Michael Clarke is a good player of spin, and can step out or hang back. But then, he defends with hard hands. The trick is to make him play back to a ball that is not really short.”

The 26-year-old can rely on both over-spin and side-spin. Usually, over-spin is his weapon, but he also bowls the wider arm delivery to impart side spin these days. Not short on variety, Ashwin delivers from a clean action and does not bowl the controversial doosra. He has the arm-ball, the carrom ball, and the under-cutter. The carrom ball drifts and spins away from the right-hander while the under-cutter cuts slightly away from the batsman. The top-spinner is a natural delivery for him because of over-spin.

England’s Graeme Swann is an off-spinner Ashwin respects. He said, “In the contemporary era, any off-spinner who has achieved so much without bending and straightening his arm has to be admired.”

There are a couple of deliveries that Ashwin is apparently working on. He has been developing a flipper that pitches just short of a length and skids on. He is also trying to exploit the carrom ball that spins into the right-hander.

The spinner also talked about subtle changes in trajectory, length and angles. He said, “I came round the wicket and got the left-handed Michael Hussey to drive in the Melbourne Test. Then I held one back, he went for the drive, and edged. I also bowled one that turned away from Shaun Marsh (another left-hander) and then got him with an under-cutter.” Successful spin bowling is also about foxing the batsman.

While bowling round the wicket can be productive for an off-spinner against a left-hander, Ashwin has had his share of success from over the wicket.In the upcoming Champions League T20, there would be a lot of expectations from him. He has been consistently doing well for the Chennai Super Kings. Also, the tour of South Africa will prove to be a major test, as the pitches will not support him.