R Ashwin's containment act does stop the opposition from getting to 300 in 50 overs, but it does not stop them from posting 300 in 75. If I were the captain, I'd expect my lead bowlers to provide me with the breakthroughs to stop the opposition from reaching 300 altogether. If you are of the mindset that the opposition takes 25 more overs and that way you end up saving the game- I really wonder how this falls under the definition of 'pragmatic'. Acts like these done by captains of Bangladesh, Zimbabwe and Afghanistan is understandable as their main aim itself is to draw the game. India- we expect you to go for the win, not draws.
Well if Ashwin or any other spinner did the containment act well then there would be one end held up from which I can rotate my 3 pacers around from, they're the ones I'm banking on to take the majority of wickets days 1-3 in Tests outside Asia, this is pragmatic because you're understanding who and what will get the maximum out of the pitch and putting all your efforts accordingly to maximize the potential of success.
Shami spoke about this after the 1st day where he praised Ashwin for giving the pacers the opportunity to attack more from the other end than they would've been able to otherwise if he hadn't kept it so tight and built pressure, and you can still get wickets playing the containment act, Ashwin got 3 in the 1st innings.
According to you, if the pitch if flat, the teams should score in excess of 1000 ? i.e if the pitch does not offer the bowlers any assistance, should you sit back and relax and let things take their own course ?
Absurd conclusion/question. Spinner contains on days 1-3 (hoping for the pitch to deteriorate on days 4-5) and the pacers keep it wicket to wicket on a off stump line, while using the odd bouncer and a full pitched ball on 4th/5th stump, if/when the ball starts to reverse swing, line and length can be altered.
No matter how good or bad the pitch is, a good spinner ought to take a few wickets. Thats the mark of a good bowler. Consider the other situation wherein the batsman is on a difficult batting track. What should he do ? Leave all deliveries and end up scoring 30 runs till the end of the day ?
Also, there are times when you require your bowlers to play the containment act, but that ought to be limited to a session or two, not all abroad Test matches.
Another absurd conclusion/question. I'm not even going to glorify it by answering it this time.
Again, spinners outside Asia for the most part have to contain in the 1st innings and hope the pitch deteriorates in the 2nd innings.
Judging a bowler on the basis of a single series just does not seem right. Ashwin came onto the scene,got more matches. Why ? I dont know,but there is a strong correlation between CSK and Team India of late.
Because management must've thought he was better, and ofc, he is and his record proves it.
As you have mentioned, he could have been given more chances. The question we need to ask is- Why was he not ? And when he wasn't given a chance to prove himself, why drop him ?
Because there was Harbhajan, Ojha and Ashwin, all better, all around the team.
) Vijay ( 
matches)
