JOHANNESBURG, Jan 3: India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin believes that his team can definitely get something out from the modest first innings total of 202. He added that pacer Mohammed Siraj, who went off the field and clutched his hamstring just before stumps were called on day one, will be assessed by the medical team.
"The totals in South Africa have been a tricky one in the first innings, especially when it's a good thing to win the toss and bat first. You want to post a good score in excess of maybe 260-270 which is a round-about score. South Africa always have batted first and has posted totals in excess of 250 and dominated the Test matches before. So, we are a bit short but I still think, with our entire bowling arsenal available tomorrow, fingers crossed, I think we can definitely make something out of this score," said Ashwin in the virtual press conference.
Siraj had hobbled off the field when he was trying to bowl the last ball of his fourth over and couldn't complete his action. His last ball was then bowled by Shardul Thakur. "The medical staff are assessing him overnight. I think it is very immediate, so initially what they do is they just put the ice and just see for the next hour or two. I am hoping that with the history Siraj has, he will definitely come out and give his best," updated Ashwin.
Asked about the nature of the Wanderers pitch, Ashwin remarked, "I just felt the pitch was a little two-paced. Generally, Wanderers has the tendency to start a bit slow and then become a little quicker. It did quicken up a bit but it just feels a little different to a typical Wanderers pitch. We have to wait and see how it responds tomorrow if it doesn't quicken up and doesn't continue to be two-paced, will the cracks open up, that is something we can only judge at the end of the game."
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