R Ashwin: We will remain positive, let's see what happens

R Ashwin bowled with discipline, giving away very little while picking up two important wickets. © kareem

Indian off-spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin, appeared nonplussed about where the Melbourne Test was heading but reassured that the Indian team would continue playing their brand of positive cricket. On a day when the remaining Indian batsmen added only three extra runs to the team's first innings total, the Indian bowlers bowled much better lines to reduce the hosts to 261/7. However, that wasn't enough to stop the Australians from stretching their lead to 326 on Day 4 of the third Test at Melbourne.

"We exactly don't know where this match is headed, but we are in very positive frame of mind. You never know, maybe tomorrow morning we can get them out early or they can set a target for us. We are positive and we will take it as it goes and see what happens," Ashwin said at the press conference after the fourth day's play.

However, Ashwin was mindful of the ways of the longer format of the game. "Any score on the final day is going to be tricky. It's a Test match and it tests every aspect of your game and attitude. It is going to be tough but we are up for it. We are here to win games and we will be positive and see where we can go," he added.

While there were starts each for openers David Warner and Chris Rogers, an incisive Indian attack ensured that they maintained discipline in their lengths and pegged back the hosts, with wickets at regular intervals. Ishant Sharma, donning the leader of the attack hat, was particularly impressive in the way he removed Shane Watson and Joe Burns. "Ishant bowled really well today. Particularly, after the rain break, he bowled three spells and was bang on with all of them. We were expecting nicks but they were not easy to come as the carry is not good and we were standing up. The cloud cover aided zip off the wicket today and hopefully it won't be there tomorrow," Ashwin said.

Despite the lack of assistance from the Melbourne surface, the off-spinner maintained a tidy length, giving nothing away and removed both the left-handers at the top of the Australian batting order. "My role didn't change much. The wicket isn't deteriorating and I needed to be a little more imaginative in terms of what I had to do in terms for taking wickets. I was trying to keep one end tight and work within my limits," he said about his role.

With India playing only overseas Tests in 2014, Ashwin has struggled to nail down a spot in the side but the Tamil Nadu spinner has taken the situation in his stride and remains focused on improving his credentials. "I have spent a fair time outside the team and it's been a hard 8-10 months. But I have taken it in my stride as this has been very important in shaping me for the future. I have been talking to bowling coach B Arun, Ravi Shastri and even manager Arshad Ayub, and they have been very helpful and supportive," Ashwin said.

While the Melbourne Test reopened the debate on sledging, Ashwin was not one to be drawn in to that aspect of the game. "I am not one to talk on the field so I am not too keen on what happened out there. But it has been kind of series and everyone has played it hard. No one should take it to heart and what happens on field should end there," he signed off.