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India vs Sri Lanka 2015: Ravichandran Ashwin is optimistic about improving his overseas record

Ravichandran Ashwin said India are prepared to tackle Sri Lanka's strengths and weaknesses.

Ashwin is optimistic that he will improve his record of playing outside India © Getty Images
Ravichandran Ashwin’s first five-wicket haul outside India was in a drawn one-off Test against Bangladesh © Getty Images

Ravichandran Ashwin has two problems to solve ahead of the Test in Sri Lanka. One is although being India’s premier spinner in recent times, he has not performed well outside India, having taken only 25 per cent of his total wickets outside India. Hence, India tour of Sri Lanka will be a challenge for the spinner. To make matters worse, there is a fair chance that he will play alongside Harbhajan Singh in the Test series. Ashwin’s first five-wicket haul outside India was in a drawn one-off Test against Bangladesh. Ashwin was quoted as saying by DNA, “I don’t really read much into accusations. If I read into the accusations, I have to sit at home. That’s not what I intend to do. But for these people, where would I even take my game. They just want me to get better. If they think they can accuse me and try to put me down, that will not work. I will keep getting better every day. By the time I quit, I should be very happy with the place I am in and I want to be the best Ashwin that I can be for the Indian team.” READ: Ravichandran Ashwin and Harbhajan Singh: India should persist with spin duo

Ashwin said whenever he is in a spot, he always looks to take the game up to the level where somebody is trying to catch up with him. Since Ashwin’s record in Sri Lanka is poor he will be tested in the hot and humid conditions of the island nation. He will be up against quality batsmen like Kumar Sangakkara, who is playing his final Test series, and will fight for preeminence with senior teammate Harbhajan. Ashwin further said, “Any team that is playing in their own backyard has a bit of advantage. They know what’s going to come, what’s going to happen on those wickets and how conditions pan out. We are prepared in terms of what their strengths and weaknesses are.” READ: Virat Kohli’s aggression rubs off on players, says Shikhar Dhawan

However, he did acknowledge Pakistan spinner Yasir Shah‘s 24 wickets in the recently concluded three-Test match series in Sri Lanka. “Yes, Yasir Shah picked up wickets. The wickets were seaming around. Sri Lanka had their fast bowlers picking up wickets. Every team will play according to the conditions and the strengths of the opposition. I would not be surprised if the wickets do a little bit for the seamers.” Virat Kohli: ‘You need a stronger bowling side to win Test matches’

The Tamil Nadu bowler tries to assess the game pretty well. “You get as close to the basics as possible and try and develop from there. I read a bit. I study to be a coach though I don’t aspire to be. I started to study materials as I somehow felt I was not getting enough answers to the questions I had. Once that happened, I started going through coaching materials myself. Then I went to different coaches. Bharat Arun (India’s bowling coach) slipped into the role. I started getting the answers. When the answers started coming, I wanted to do certain amount of things. I try and innovate with my game. I try and see if I can cock my wrist differently, load up differently. All these things are something that are technical. but I am prepared to give it a shot. when I keep giving these things a shot, it turns out to be fantastic sometimes and sometimes it turns out to be rubbish. So, it was one of those times when I was out of the Test team for 13-14 months, I used the ‘break’ pretty effectively. It was one of those fine days when people thought it was nice and I kept at it. Thankfully enough, a certain process has ended in a good result.” READ:Virat Kohli clarifies perceived statement on MS Dhoni

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