England vs India 2018: I’ve been Asked to be Aggressive – Adil Rashid
Aug 19, 2018 at 12:00 PM
England spinner Adil Rashid said that he is been asked to be aggressive and go for wickets. Rashid who was RASH in line and length in his first spell was able to bounce back in the second spell. Adil went for 29 runs in his first five overs as he put a buffet for the Indian batsmen.
The England leg-spinner was all-over the place in the first spell. However, he showed better control in the second spell. Adil Rashid took out the big fish, Virat Kohli as he enticed him to play through the covers. The leggie gave good flight to the ball and took the ball away. Kohli went for the drive with hard hands and thus fell for the bait.
Rashid was able to take Virat Kohli’s wicket for the second time in the Test series.
“It was definitely a nervy start, I needed a few overs just to get into it,” said Rashid.
“I was looking to bowl wicket-to-wicket,” he said of the ball that dismissed Kohli, “just trying to keep it nice and tight and mix my pace up. Fortunately for me that one was a bit slower and in the driving range and he just nicked it, so it’s natural variation.”
In fact, Adil Rashid was bowling slowly in his first spell. The leg-spinner average speed was 45mph and he generally bowls around the 50mph mark. Thus, he was giving more time for the batsman to adjust to the length. However, Adil Rashid was able to find his Midas touch when he got the better of Virat Kohli.
“Usually when I am in rhythm I am around that 50mph mark, giving it a chance to spin. But sometimes you don’t feel great and it doesn’t come out the hand right so you have to find a Plan B.
“Whatever I did in the one-dayers and the T20s, that’s what I’ve been told to do – to just go out there and be aggressive and look to create chances, try to get wickets. That’s my role. They’ve not told me to go at under-threes or twos or anything, I need to create some chances and if I get hit for a few it doesn’t matter, so it’s a nice place to be.”
On the other hand, Ajinkya Rahane famously known as Jinx was able to break his Jinx as he scored a fine 81. Rahane believes that it is a good score on this wicket.
“I think it’s a good score,” he said. “Intent was important on this wicket. We were thinking if we get a good start we could get good runs. Our focus for me and Virat was to rotate strike and occupy the crease.