Ashwin in control to silence his spin critics

RAVI Ashwin said he was better this time, on his third trip to Australia. He said he had learned what to do here.

The magical Indian offspinner, the fastest player ever to 300 Test wickets, faster than the great Dennis Lillee who had the record before him, even took on the Twitter trolls who said he was no good anywhere other than at home.

There was plenty of fuel for the critics. Before Ashwin put on a masterclass on day two in Adelaide, 234 of his 336 Test wickets had been taken in India, and 277 — or 82 per cent — in Asia. His average in Australia, through two tours, was nearly 55.

It was enough for Shane Warne to suggest that maybe left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav could have been picked ahead of Ashwin in Adelaide.

What folly that would have been if Indian selectors didn’t back their main man, who said he would back himself against anyone, anywhere.

Ashwin had been eyeing off the long list of left-handers who fill spots in the Aussie top six too.

Of the four lefties, he had removed three before tea on the second day of the Test and delivered an almighty uppercut to the critics, finishing the day with 3-50 from 33 on-target overs.

From his first over on day one, Aussie offie Nathan Lyon was extracting spin and bounce from an unusual Adelaide drop-in pitch, and constant groans from the close-in fielders followed.

Ditto for Ashwin, who, aided by the perceived pressure the cheering and yapping of his keeper Rishabh Pant created, was tail up from his first ball.

“It’s not going to be easy, c’mon Ash,” Pant said, then quickly again as Ashwin kept firing. “C’mon boys. Just keep it there. Oiiii, oiii. Arrghh, boys, c’mon.”

It was like Ashwin was bowling at home. After he took down Marcus Harris, then forced Shaun Marsh to play a shocking shot and bowled him, both left-handers, the noose tightened.