Ravichandran Ashwin advises critics of third Test pitch "to get over it"

NICK HOWSON: The India spinner has clearly had enough at the discussion over the Ahmedabad surface, which led to the shortest Test since 1935

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India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has hit out at continued criticism of the Ahmedabad pitch which played host to the shortest completed Test since World War Two against England.

Virat Kohli's men climbed into a 2-1 series lead after a 10-wicket win at the Narendra Modi Stadium, where next week's fourth Test will also be held.

Just 842 balls were bowled and 387 runs registered, making it the lowest scoring Test ever played in Asia.

The surface took spin early on and just two of the 30 wickets to fall went to seamers. It could yet be marked as "poor" by the ICC, in line with their regulations regarding pitch performance and preparation.

Former India Test players VVS Laxman, Harbhajan Singh and Vuvraj Singh have all questioned the quality of the conditions. Ex-England captains Nasser Hussain and Mike Atherton have also taken issue with the pitch.

Kohli claimed it was "very good" while his opposite number Joe Root prefered to leave scrutiny to the ICC.

While speaking to the media on Saturday (February 27), Ashwin - who went to 400 Test wickets during the Test - was clearly irked by the continued discussion and attempted to shut-down further debate during a lengthy tirade.

"The bowlers want to win the game," said the 34-year-old, who sent a number of cryptic tweets 24 hours previous, during one exchange with a journalist. "The batsman needs to bat well to get runs. No question about it. 

"What makes a good surface? Who defines this? Seam on the first day and then bat well and then spin on the last two days? Come on.

"Who makes all these rules, we need to get over it and not talk about whatever picture you want to paint. 

"If you're asking if it is a good Test surface, I don't see any of the players coming from England having an issue with the surface.

"They want to improve, they look like they want to have a contest.

"Is it the players and the people who are reporting back that want their players to not complete and complain about the pitches? Because we have never done that on any of the tours."

"It depends on what you are hoping for. We hope for a good cricket match. That's what you should be hoping for not worrying about the surface. 

^{Nasser Hussain has been among those to criticise the pitch}

Ashwin later accused the media of double standards and the failure to stage the same debate when conditions are helpful to quick bowlers.

"But the fact remains that the talk around the surface just getting out of hand," said the veteran of 77 Tests. "Why would you talk about the surface to us time and time again? 

"Has there been any instance where the surface has been spoken about at any other place, any other country we have played games in?

"I somehow find it very, very funny that when they speak about the surface, it immediately gets quoted all over in our press. And that is the issue here. Because there have been instances. 

"We went to New Zealand and both Tests were over within five days. A total of five days for two Test matches and nobody quoted it.

"There is a video that's doing the rounds where Virat in South Africa is saying that 'I'm not here to talk about the pitch and I am not comforting my team'. 

"That is how we have been taught to play cricket and I don't know why we indulge in such thoughts, promote such thoughts. That's why I say, let them sell it, buying is always our choice."

Image courtesy of BCCI

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