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We are ahead in the game: Ashwin

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Press Trust of India Brisbane
Indian off-spinner R Ashwin believes his side is currently ahead in the second cricket Test against Australia and said they would look to get some quick wickets in the morning session tomorrow.

Australia today finished the day at 221 for 4 in reply to India's total of 408 runs. The hosts still trail by 187 runs.

"We are ahead in the game at this point of time. If we can have a good morning session tomorrow then we will be ahead in the game overall," Ashwin told reporters.

It was a good outing for the off-spinner on day two in Brisbane, after sitting out in Adelaide. He first batted in the morning session, scoring 35 valuable runs as India crossed the 400-run mark despite debutant Josh Hazlewood taking his maiden five-wicket haul. Then he held a couple of catches at first slip, dismissing Shane Watson along the way.
 

"I think we could have scored a few more runs. I am disappointed how I got out," he said.

"I think I batted to the best of my ability. After a long time I got a chance to bat in the middle, but felt disappointed to give my wicket away. We still got 400 runs but if we got a few more runs then it would have been better."

Talking about leg-spinner Karn Sharma being picked ahead of him in the first Test, Ashwin said, "These things are going to happen and not just with me. It has happened to many cricketers in the past and it will happen to many others in the future as well.

"It was a horses-for-courses policy and sometimes you need to be appreciative that the team needs someone else more than you. I try and learn from it and if I become a better cricketer learning from it, then it is good," he said.

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First Published: Dec 18 2014 | 3:01 PM IST

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