Ravichandran Ashwin dissects Joe Root, Steve Smith’s batting style: India’s ace off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin is known for his cricketing brain and the tactical preparations he puts in before a series. In a recent interview, Ashwin shed light on how he fine-tunes his preparations days before the start of a series and plans a batsman’s dismissal. In the same sequence, he talked about the batting styles of England captain Joe Root and Australia’s Steve Smith. Follow more sports news on InsideSport.IN.
Ravichandran Ashwin dissects Joe Root, Steve Smith’s batting style: ‘Root vulnerably sweeps every second ball, Smith is momentum-driven’
While Ashwin called Smith a momentum-driven batsman, he reckoned that Root has a “vulnerable defence technique” which forces him to sweep every second ball from a spinner.
Ravichandran Ashwin dissects Joe Root, Steve Smith’s batting style: ‘Root vulnerably sweeps every second ball, Smith is momentum-driven’
While talking to ESPNCricinfo, Ashwin highlighted the importance of tactical preparations apart from physical and mental readiness. “There are two aspects of preparation. One is physical and the other is mental and tactical. I don’t think people talk enough about or lay enough emphasis on the tactical stuff,” said Ashwin.
The Chennai-born further elaborated on how he prepares himself ahead of an important Test series, revealing that he takes help from the team analysts to understand the batting patterns of different players. The 35-year-old added that he minutely watches the ball by ball innings of the batsman he is planning to target.
“When England came to India, I watched their whole Sri Lanka series without missing one ball. I would immediately go back to Hari [the India analyst] and ask him what speed [Lasith] Embuldeniya was bowling, what speed Dilruwan [Perera] was bowling, what percentage of balls were within the stumps. We have this app where we can sort, so I watched again all the Dilruwan Perera videos.
“For example, Joe Root will not block two balls in a row. He’s got a slightly vulnerable defence. And I think he knows that. Or he’s constantly on the move. So every time he defends a ball comfortably outside off, the next ball will be a sweep.”
Ravichandran Ashwin dissects Joe Root, Steve Smith’s batting style: ‘Root vulnerably sweeps every second ball, Smith is momentum-driven’
Smith is momentum-driven, says Ashwin: When Ashwin was asked about his plans against Steve Smith, he was quick to point out that the Australian makes enormous use of his hands, and is a “momentum-driven batsman”.
“And with Steve Smith, his batting is very momentum-driven. Most of his batting comes from his hands, so my whole idea was to disturb his hands through the series. He’s got certain hand-movement patterns. You have to pick them and be able to bowl in a way that disturbs his hand pattern. So I bowled with different load-ups, different speeds, different run-ups and all that. I realised I kind of got to him,” said Ashwin.
The Indian off-spinner got the better of Steve Smith three times in four Tests when India toured Australia for the Border Gavaskar Trophy in 2020-21.
Ravichandran Ashwin dissects Joe Root, Steve Smith’s batting style: ‘Root vulnerably sweeps every second ball, Smith is momentum-driven’
Ashwin also talked about his plans for the South Africa tour starting from December 26 with the first Test in Centurion. The 35-year-old said that his focus will be to dismiss the tail and he has his plans in place for the same.
“Especially when travelling abroad, dismissing the tail is important. I’ve been trying to practise a couple of deliveries. I might give them a go in South Africa,” he said.
India has reached South Africa for three-match Test series. Virat Kohli and Co. will be eyeing their maiden series win in 28 years in the Rainbow Nation. In the absence of Ravindra Jadeja, Ashwin is expected to play a huge all-round role in the series.
Ravichandran Ashwin dissects Joe Root, Steve Smith’s batting style: ‘Root vulnerably sweeps every second ball, Smith is momentum-driven’
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