The Chennai-based Test specialist had his leg-spinners going well and he looked the complete package that he was when he had most of his success at home last year. Of course, he was fighting an injury when he toured England  where he struggled after the first Test.

“I wanted to get my drift back, my rhythm back as it’s difficult to come back after an injury. I was a bit apprehensive, feeling a lot better on the third day,” he said after the Test.

“I had a good stint at NCA and before that in England. It’s a fair amount of difference Kuldeep is talking about, adapting to the SG, Kookaburra and Dukes. The Kookaburra white ball seam is a lot more narrow these days, doesn’t swing much and doesn’t grip as well. That’s where the adaptation is very important, we didn’t get much time to do that. Right now I would say Kookaburra red ball is a lot better ball, Dukes is also right up there. Pretty disappointed with the current SG ball,” Ashwin explained the technique of bowling with different balls.

“It used to be top-notch, the seam used to stand up strong even after 70-80 overs. It’s not the same anymore. I generally believe that in the second innings, the teams put up a better fight and there are a couple of partnerships here and there usually. There was one. This wicket was slightly better, it still is, hence I was surprised, shocked is the wrong word with the amount of attacking shots, the high risk shots that were played against the spinners. Maybe it was their strategy against the spinners,” he added.