Indian spinner Ravi Ashwin says he saw Shane Watson's dismissal coming and orchestrated the Australian batsman's downfall on the second day of the Gabba's Test.
Pressure is mounting on Watson to convert his starts at No.3 after he fell for 25 from 29 balls as Australia tried to respond to India's imposing first-innings total of 408 on the second day of the Brisbane Test.
Ashwin kept mid-off and mid-on inside the ring for Watson even as the boundaries flowed, and the all-rounder struck a firm catch to Shikhar Dhawan at mid-off. "I visualised Shane Watson's dismissal in such a fashion," Aswhin said, "that he was going to flat bat it straight to mid on or mid off, or [I would] try and get him caught at short leg. Because he goes hard so I have a chance at short leg, and he wants to hit the ball straight. I thought I could go a little flatter and quickish and beat him through flight."
Watson missed the most recent Test series in the UAE with injury. He played an important role with the ball in the first innings after fellow all-rounder Mitch Marsh hurt his hamstring. But he needs to improve his output as a top order batsman.
While Ashwin had his measure, Steve Smith used his feet beautifully to the spinner who finished the day with 1-66 from 18 overs.
Of Ashwin's 108 Test wickets, 95 have been taken in India. In Brisbane, he contributed 35 lower order runs and two sharp slips catches on top of Watson's wicket after being left out for leg spinner Karn Sharma for Adelaide, where his runs might have carried India to a famous win.
"It's horses for courses and you should be appreciative of the fact that the team needs someone else more than you," he said.
