My job is to empower the players, says bowling coach Bharat Arun

                                                       

Indian team bowling coach Bharat Arun declared Ravichandran Ashwin “the unquestionable No. 1 spinner in world cricket at present.”

Speaking to The Hindu here on Tuesday, Arun said: “Ashwin has all the attributes. He can really give the ball a tweak. He knows how to use the angles. Importantly, he understands himself as a bowler.”

Dwelling on the rather special bond he shares with Ashwin, the former India all-rounder said: “My job as bowling coach is to empower the players, give them honest feedback. I want Ashwin to discover himself as a bowler, and he is doing just that. He has been exceptional in the manner he has altered his trajectory and pace. We chat about strengths and weaknesses of players. But it is up to him to execute the plans. He has been sensational with 31 wickets in the series.”

Talking about the off-spinner’s versatility, Arun said: “The ball with which Ashwin dismissed AB de Villiers in the South African second innings at Nagpur was the delivery of the series for me. It pitched on leg and hit middle and off. It was a perfectly bowled carrom ball.

“Ashwin has the confidence to try out different deliveries, even some good leg-spinners. His growth as a spinner has been phenomenal.”

Arun said he was impressed with left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja as well. “He is extremely accurate. On turning tracks, he can bowl the straighter one, which is a precious attribute,” he said.

The India bowling coach termed Amit Mishra “a valuable member.”

“He bowled with control, spun the ball and took some big wickets,” Arun said.

On paceman Umesh Yadav, Arun said: “Umesh’s speed and reverse-swing made a difference.”

Arun said: “It cannot get better than defeating the No.1 Test side 3-0. South Africa had some big names in batting. But our bowling was top notch.”

On the criticism heaped on some excessively spinner-friendly tracks in the series, Arun said: “The pitch was good on the first day of the Bangalore Test. We dismissed South Africa for 214. The pitch in Delhi was reasonable for batting. We made 334 and 267 for five. South Africa was dismissed for 121 and 143. Our bowlers deserve credit.”

“Even if it turns from ball one, what is the big deal? Does it not seam and bounce from the first delivery in several pitches of South Africa and England? In recent years, there have been scores of below hundred in Tests in England and South Africa, but nothing is written about them. Some of those pitches have been green and wet. Yet, if the ball turns more than usual, some people make a hue and cry. I cannot understand this hypocrisy. One of the great challenges of cricket is to excel in different conditions.”