R Ashwin
Ravichandran Ashwin. Image-Twitter.

Indian ace spinner Ravichandran Ashwin took a dig at former cricketers and analysts calling the Chennai pitch not suitable for Test cricket, as it saw England being bowled out for 134 runs on day two, as India began its second innings as well.

Many former England cricketers and analysts were not happy with the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai pitch that was laid out for the ongoing second Test match being played between India and England. The dark-colored pitch began turning from day one itself, leading to it being called unsuitable for Test cricket.

Michael Vaughan, David Lloyd, and Mark Waugh termed the pitch a shocker, an embarrassment and whatnot, while Kevin Pietersen took a sarcastic take at the track, terming it brave of India to make a rank turner despite being 0-1 down in the series and needing to win this match.

Ravichandran Ashwin
Ravichandran Ashwin Credits: BCCI

However, Ashwin was not happy with the negativisms being levied on the pitch and shared examples of seam-friendly pitches where batsmen find it difficult to negotiate pace and movement.

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They Want Conditions In Their Favour, Driving, Cutting Everything Needs To Happen: Ravichandran Ashwin  

Ravichandran Ashwin said the cricket world needs to set the “same benchmarks” when discussing spin and seam-friendly pitches while saying that he has not heard the England team complained about the track.

“When it comes to spin, unfortunately, people don’t expect… they want conditions in their favour, driving, cutting everything needs to happen. But when it comes to a seaming wicket, you can’t do all those when you start in the morning. I think the same kind of benchmarks need to be set when you play spin on a challenging pitch as well,” Ashwin told reporters.

Ravichandran Ashwin
Ravichandran Ashwin cleans up Ben Stokes Credits: Twitter

“I don’t know if they have complaints. If they do, it’s quite natural for people to come up against adverse conditions and then be taken aback by it. In all honesty, in the 7 days of Test cricket we have played so far, England have played really well, competed really well,” he added.

India made 329 runs in the first innings, while England replied with 134 runs, with only Ben Foakes showing skills to counter Ashwin and Axar Patel on the track, making 42*. India was 54/1 in the second innings losing Shubman Gill.

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There Are Conditions Which Will Challenge You, Be It Spin Or Be It Seam, opined Ravichandran Ashwin

India vs England 2021: Some Benchmarks Needed To Be Set When It Comes To Seam And Spin Friendly Pitches, Says Ravichandran Ashwin
David Lloyd [Image Credit: Getty]

“The only comparison I would say is if the ball is moving around in 140-150 clicks off the deck, that has to be more challenging than someone bowling at 85 or 90 kph when the ball is spinning. Clearly, the challenges are way greater when you come up against seam. It’s just the same way when you play spin, you have to give it to the bowler, play time and then look to score runs. It’s another form of art, that’s it. As simple as that,” the ace Indian spinner said.

The Tamil Nadu spinner picked his 29th five-wicket haul and became the first bowler in the world to dismiss 200 left-handed batsmen in Test format.

Also Read: India vs England 2021: David Lloyd Terms The Pitch At Chepauk As An ‘Embarrassment’