Ravichandran Ashwin has come up with a simple explanation for India and Yashasvi Jaiswal鈥檚 troubles with catching balls around the slip cordon in the ongoing Headingly Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. Ashwin said the Duke鈥檚 ball is heavier and difficult to adjust to, which not many people consider, and asked fans to cut some slack to Jaiswal, who has been among India鈥檚 most improved fielders of the last few months.
Jaiswal, who scored a century in the first innings, dropped three catches in the second innings across Days 2 and 3. As per available records, it鈥檚 the highest number of grassed catches by one player in an innings. All went down to Jasprit Bumrah鈥檚 bowling, who had two more dropped by other fielders, too.
鈥淭here has been some talk about his catching at slip cordon,鈥 Ashwin said in a video on his X (formerly Twitter) handle. 鈥淵es, he has found it tough. But let鈥檚 all just understand something 鈥 and cut [him] some slack 鈥 which we often fail to do is how difficult it is to catch, not just in English conditions. It鈥檚 cold weather and it鈥檚 also about the feel of the Duke鈥檚 ball. It can take some adaptation time. The SG ball feels nice and comfortable inside the hand, the Kookaburra feels smaller. The Duke鈥檚 is harder and definitely, from a field perspective, feels bigger and it鈥檚 not easy,鈥 Ashwin added.
鈥淗e鈥檚 been one of the most improved slip fielders that India has had. He has taken some fantastic catches in the recent past, especially in Test cricket, so we should give him some time,鈥 Ashwin said.
Overall, India fluffed six clear catching opportunities, which was another record low for some years.
鈥楳assive achievement鈥: Ashwin on Pant鈥檚 twin tons
Another new-gen left-hander, Rishabh Pant, hit two centuries in the Test, becoming the first wicketkeeper from India to do so. The retired spinner lauded him, but also contextualised his 鈥榪uestionable tactics鈥.
鈥淎 twin hundred for Rishabh,鈥 Ashwin said. 鈥淎 massive achievement鈥 His modus operandi has always been up for questioning. Yet again against Brydon Carse, he played a slog sweep which didn鈥檛 seem like percentage cricket鈥 and a fall sleep which he got out to at Melbourne. Very questionable tactics but that鈥檚 the way he has been going about his business. If he鈥檚 going to take the sword, might as well judge him by the performance and not by how he does it,鈥 he added.