Current Australia batter Marnus Labuschagne on Tuesday opened up about playing against India's R Ashwin during the 2020-21 Test series at home which Australia lost. He picked 12 wickets in 3 Tests with a best of 4/55.
Ashwin was one of the best Indian bowlers during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2020-21 as India fought back from the humiliation of 36 all out in Adelaide Test, to winning the Melbourne Test, drawing the Sydney Test with Ashwin contributing with the bat as well, and then creating history by defeating Australia in Brisbane for the first time in 33 years, to clinch the series 2-1.
In an interview with Cricbuzz, the 26-year-old said, "I've always been quite good at hitting the ball through there. It's just more of a tactical decision. As simple as it is, you've got to try and hit the ball where there's the least number of fielders.
Now in those times, you're speaking about, Ashwin had a 6-3 field on the leg-side. He only had point, cover, and slip. And so, the obvious option was giving yourself space and trying and pick your runs through the covers. Just doing whatever it takes really to score through the off-side."
R Ashwin, who made his India debut in 2011, has 430 wickets in 84 Tests, 151 wickets in 113 ODIs, and 61 wickets in 51 T20I matches for India. He also has 2844 runs in Tests with 5 centuries to his name.
Labuschagne praised Ashwin's ability to analyze the batter and their game, which helps him counter whatever the opposition is doing.
Opening up about the 'skillset' of the veteran India spinner, Labuschagne stated, "The reason Ashwin's record is so good is that he's a tremendous thinker of the game. So, he's always thinking about how he can get you out. About what you are doing. And so what he's doing to counter that?
And then he seems to go, "Ok now I'm going to change so that you're going to do this." That's what makes him really good. Now, not all bowlers are like that. There are other bowlers who have really good deliveries and can bowl really well but that thinking of getting you out, that's an acquired skill."
"On some wickets, it's easy. Because you just need to put the ball there and the wicket will do the work. But I think Ashwin has played on plenty of wickets where he's had to create the work, he's had to create the angles, come tight or come wide. And that's why it's really good to play against guys like Ashwin. You obviously have to lift your game because he's lifted his game," added the Aussie batter.
(With Cricbuzz Inputs)
