I have never got wickets on such a pitch: Ashwin

There were no nerves and no fumbles in R. Ashwin's approach as he squared up to the media after setting up India well in the first Test against the West Indies. The replies were sharp and focused while the off-spinner discussed his craft and the angst of a Test debutant, which he denied.

Excerpts:

The approach

“I didn't expect any wickets or so many of them, but before the Test match I was hoping to get a five-wicket haul and probably some more runs as well.

“Unfortunately the second part did not happen.”

Wickets that mattered

“Marlon Samuels was probably playing for the turn and he seemed worried about the bat-pad to short-leg but probably if you have played in Delhi and the Kotla, you do know that it won't go to short-leg.

“Unfortunately he did not know that and he was looking for the spin and it went straight on.

For Chanderpaul, I was bowling around the wicket in the first innings, so here I came over the wicket and was just trying a different angle. Fortunately it worked.”

The Harbhajan shadow

“I am a youngster and he is a senior professional and he has done his job and probably when I am given my duties I need to live up to my conscience and do my job.”

Pitch and other turns

“Honestly speaking I have never got wickets on such a pitch. It is not my bread and butter as I need spin and bounce. There was nothing for the batsmen or the bowlers. If the batsman is not patient enough you can get a wicket.

“Today I tried to bowl a wee bit quicker and on to the stumps and it paid off.”

“I didn't feel any nerves but yes the body wasn't moving the way I wanted it to in the first few overs. I didn't know whether my hip was turning, whether the release was perfect.

“All I was doing was concentrating because I have never seen a wicket that is so less receptive to so many revolutions on the ball.

“All these things were weighing on my mind before I went in for the lunch break (on the first day) but as time went on, I just had to handle myself.

“I don't think I was that nervous.

“To play alongside Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid is a blessing.”