Was asked to be ready but it started pouring, says Ashwin

LONDON: Senior India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin said that he was asked to be ready for the second Test against England due to the prevailing heat wave in London but the steady showers on match day put a spanner on his hopes of a spot in the playing XI.

India persisted with their four-pacer strategy that earned them a victory at Lord’s.

“What was the weather forecast for the match? Heatwave. The funny thing was, before the match, they were telling me, Heat wave, neenga readya irunga (there’s a heat wave. You please be ready. You might play).

“When we came to have breakfast, it was pouring...” Ashwin said on his YouTube show “KuttyStory” with Indian fielding coach R Sridhar, adding that “weather is not in our hands.” He was apparently referring to him not being picked in the XI keeping the overcast weather conditions in mind.

Sridhar, in response to a question, said the team had a “great bowling attack” and “to keep the world’s best spinner out of the XI is not easy.” Discussing the 151run win at Lord’s which gave India a 1-0 lead in the five-Test series, the two agreed that openers Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul played a key role.

“Rahul came out and played like a dream,” Ashwin said. “Also, a word on Rohit’s defence this series. Rohit has played the cover drives, pulls, etc. All those are glorious.”

Babar, Fawad rescue Pak from horror start

KINGSTON: Babar Azam and Fawad Alam were battling to lift Pakistan from a horrible start at 62 for three at lunch on the opening day of the second Test against the West Indies at Sabina Park on Friday.

Kemar Roach struck twice and new ball partner Jayden Seales claimed early success as well to have the tourists tottering at two for three in four overs.