Ashwin ‘slips’ into a new role

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In these times of transition, the Indian Test side has to cope with a new set of slip fielders and it seems skipper M.S. Dhoni is open to options in the specialist job.

On Sunday, the third day of the second Test here, Dhoni asked R. Ashwin to be at third slip along with other slip-fielders Suresh Raina and Virender Sehwag. Right into the third session, the offie was stationed at second slip, along with Sehwag.

“It looks like an experimental move. It’s a positive step and it’s always good to have wider pool of players for crucial fielding positions,” noted former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly.

It’s quite rare for India to use some of their specialist bowlers in the crucial ‘pouching’ spots behind the wicket and even most sides at the international level follow suit.

Batsmen mostly get the nod to provide bowlers enough ‘rest’ at third-man, deep fine leg or any other positions where the possibility of quick reflex catches are nil.

It has become a tradition that the bowlers are conveniently kept away from slips, but it seems Dhoni the gambler has decided to tread a different path in the current era.