Off-spinners best Test figures outside Asia the product of 12 months' hard work
Remodelled Ashwin's seven-star effort
India's ace off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has revealed the secret to his success in the series opener against England at Edgbaston.
Ashwin, who returned figures of 4-62 and 3-59 in India's 31-run first Test defeat, revealed his form was the result of a year of hard work.
The 31-year-old's match figures of 7-121 are his best in 16 Tests outside Asia, narrowly eclipsing the 7-126 he took against West Indies at North Sound in 2016.
"Over the last 12 months, I have been working on simplifying my action; make sure I can get more body into the ball and hence, create something in the air," he told BCCI.tv.
"Doing the batsmen in the air is something I have consciously worked upon."
Ashwin has a stunning record of 225 wickets at 22.79 from 36 Tests on home soil, but the knock on the off-spinner has always been his ability to perform outside Asia.
Ahead of the first Test in Birmingham, many predicted left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav would usurp his older counterpart for the lone spinner's spot in India's XI.
However, the selectors kept the faith in Ashwin, who duly repaid it with a starring performance, and he was quick to cite his remodeled action as a big reason for the success.
"When you are trying to do it, the body simply gives up – you are a touch short or long," he added.
"A lot of bad habits creep up, like the arms coming in. I had to work against my own will."
The second Test of the five-match series begins on Thursday at Lord's. England are expected to be without allrounder Ben Stokes, who is on trial in Bristol after being charged with affray.