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Sports

Ashwin throws weight behind having permanent Test centres

Indore, Nov 14


Ravichandran Ashwin on Thursday backed skipper Virat Kohli who feels there should be five permanent Test centres in the country.

Ashwin also opined Day-Night Tests is the way forward. India will take on Bangladesh in the second Test under lights for the first time at Eden Gardens in Kolkata from November 22-26. In the first Test, India are already in the driver's seat after Day 1 here. They bowled out Bangladesh for 150 and were 86/1 at stumps, trailing by just 64 runs.

Ashwin grabbed two wickets on the first day here including his 250th in home tests.

"Every other Test playing nation generally has a certain pattern of playing Test cricket. They do know how the venue behaves, how the pitch behaves, how the games pans out. That's perennially how Test cricket works in most parts of the world. Even in India it was no exception.

"But of late, with a lot of cricketers coming from different parts of the country, cricket has grown and gone to every nook and corner which is a great sign. Hence, we are having Test matches in various venues," said Ashwin after the day's play.

"The understanding of a particular venue and keeping it that way will help the players. Whether or not that's the right thing to do is something decision makers will have to take," he said.

On pink ball tests, Ashwin said though he has never bowled a single delivery with it, the change should be accepted with open arms.

"For India, as a Test playing country, it was necessary for us to play Day-Night Test. The office-going crowd which couldn't catch Test cricket can now do so," Ashwin said.

"Obviously, it's a challenge to play with the pink ball. The ball has a lot more lacquer. Personally I think it's the right direction we have taken, and hopefully, the Test match will be a historic moment and it will be the start of many more to come."

Ashwin said he is still adjusting to the colour of the ball.

"I've never played a pink ball game. I didn't play the Duleep Trophy that happened a few years ago. I haven't even bowled a single ball with the pink ball. Obviously I just saw it. Sometimes I don't understand if its orange or pink, still coming to terms with that," he said.

"I think having played in Kolkata before, it does a lot more in the evening and the pitch is re-laid. It does move a little bit with the white ball so you can imagine what could happen with the pink or orange ball. We are all little wary but excited about the game," he added.