I've never been a numbers man, says Ashwin

In an exclusive chat, off-spinner R Ashwin spoke about his plans and his expectations from the coming season. 

CHENNAI: There's a gruelling season ahead andR Ashwin has started preparing for it. He is leading the Tamil Nadu XI in the Buchi Babu invitational tournament. When congratulated for another five-wicket haul in the quarterfinals, the tall off-spinner laughed: "Not bad, what do you say?"

But Ashwin knows this is nothing more than an appetizer before the real action begins with theChampions League in September. It will be followed by the home ODI series against Australia and then the big one, the South Africa series away.

In an exclusive chat, Ashwin spoke about his plans and his expectations from the coming season. Excerpts:

How was the month-long break after the tri-series in West Indies? Were you completely away from cricket?

It was a much-needed break and I spent some quality time with the family. It's been just a couple of weeks that I am back on the field, trying to get some playing time before the real action starts. But yes, in this break, I did watch a bit of Ashes. Jimmy Anderson was quitefantastic, and so was Graeme Swann.

Do you try to pick up any aspect of Swann's bowling?

I have a lot of respect for Swann. He is a great bowler and he has been for a while and has done a great job for his country. But we are different bowlers and I prefer working on my strengths.

You have 92 wickets from 16 Tests and can break Erapalli Prasanna's record of being the quickest to reach the 100-mark (in 20 Tests) among Indians. Your thoughts on that record...

I have never been a numbers man. It's not my aim for the season to break that record, my aim is to bowl to the best of my potential. If in the process, the record happens, yes, I will be happy.

You bowled the last over in the Champions Trophy final and defended 15 runs. Is that the most important over that you have bowled so far in your career?

Maybe, but I know that it wouldn't be my last. Yes, it was a great challenge and I am happy that we got over the line. But I would relish such a challenge if it comes my way in the future.

In the series against Australia Down Under in 2011-12, the returns weren't exactly great for you. Do you think South Africa will be different. How important is it for you to prove to people that you're as good a bowler abroad as you are in India?

Yes, 10 wickets from three Tests that I played in Australia didn't meet my expectations. But as you know, cricket is more about the situation, how the match is placed at that point of time...And if you ask me about South Africa now, I would say it's a little too early, there are three months still to go. Right now, I would like to do well in the Champions League T20 for CSK and then look ahead.

Your expectations from the Champions League?

We have been a wonderful bunch at CSK. With the auctions this year, I don't know how many more games we will be playing together. So the Champions League is a great platform for all of us to celebrate what we have been doing so well for a while and win the tournament.

In your absence in Zimbabwe, Ravindra Jadeja and Amit Mishra did a good job. Being the No. 1 spinner of the team, what are your thoughts?

They are quality cricketers and it's good to see that they are all performing. Jadeja has done well in the recent past and I have a lot of respect for Mishy. He is a good leg-spinner, has been around for a while, and I hope we all do well together.

You have also become a specialist in the slips.

Nothing of that sort, I field where I am asked to. Yes, I have stood in the slips of late and the catches are coming my way. It doesn't mean I am uncomfortable fielding anywhere else.

You have always been serious about your batting?

I am. Right now, I am working on hitting the ball a fair distance. It's important for a lower middle-order batsman to do so in tight situations in limited-overs cricket and it's an area that I am looking to improve
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