Ashwin cites experience for dominant performance

India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin said their experience, rather than Bangladesh’s shortcomings, was the major reason why the former dominated the opening day’s play of the first Test match at Holkar Stadium Thursday.

Batting first, the Tigers were all out for just 150, replying to which the Indians posted 86 runs losing only one wicket at stumps on day one.

Ashwin said they simply banked on their rich experience in the longer version as they have played a combined 584 Tests together, compared to Bangladesh’s 263.

Interim @BCBtigers Test captain @MominulHaque68 admitted that the wicket was challenging but not unplayable on day one and blamed poor decisions from the batsmen for folding out for just 150 runs in the first innings.https://t.co/P9pUYpbYrp#BCBTIGERS #BCB #TIGERS #BANGLADESH

— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) November 14, 2019

“You need to understand the fact that our team are a lot more experienced in Test cricket compared to other sides. We are almost averaging 40-50 Tests and a lot of players in the other side are inexperienced. From my side I think Bangladesh played some good cricket in the morning and were eventually all out by persistent bowling from our pacers. So I will say good cricket is being played. So rather than being harsh on Bangladesh I will look on to the positives that Indian team have achieved in [Thursday's] play,” said Ashwin after the end of the day’s proceedings.

“I don’t think any international team (are) scared to play against (us). If you are talking about No 10s and 11s, batsmen moving away from the stumps and playing the balls, that happens with a lot of No 10s and 11s. I think it was a brave decision by them to bat first after winning the toss. We did not expect that. 

“We thought they will bowl but they chose to bat which is I guess is comfortable from their end. To be honest, few of their batsmen batted well in the morning session. It was never easy to bat in a wicket where there were some help for the bowlers. I think Mominul Haque batted really well.”

1ST TEST, DAY 1

BANGLADESH 1ST INNINGS    R    B    

Shadman c Saha b Ishant    6    24

Imrul c Rahane b Yadav        6    18

Mominul b Ashwin        37    80

Mithun lbw b Shami        13    36

Mushfiq b Shami        43    105

Mahmudullah b Ashwin        10    30

Liton c Kohli b Ishant        21    31

Miraz lbw b Shami         0    1

Taijul run out (Jadeja/Saha)    1    7

Jayed not out            7    14

Ebadat b Yadav            2    5

Extras (lb3, w1)            4

Total (58.3 overs)        150

Fall Of Wickets

1-12 (Imrul), 2-12 (Shadman), 3-31 (Mithun), 4-99 (Mominul), 5-115 (Mahmudullah), 6-140 (Mushfiq), 7-140 (Miraz), 8-140 (Liton), 9-148 (Taijul), 10-150 (Ebadat)

Bowling: Ishant 12-6-20-2, Yadav 14.3-3-47-2, Shami 13-5-27-3 (w1), Ashwin 16-1-43-2, Jadeja 3-0-10-0

INDIA 1ST INNINGS        R    B

Agarwal not out                       37    81

Rohit c Liton b Jayed        6    14

Pujara not out            43    61

Total (26 overs)            86/1

Fall Of Wicket

1-14 (Rohit)

Bowling: Ebadat 11-2-32-0, Jayed 8-0-21-1, Taijul 7-0-33-0