Ranji trophy: Crist — adding teeth to TN’s pace attack
The wheel has turned a full circle for Tamil Nadu. Having started the Ranji Trophy this season with a loss to defending champion Karnataka, Tamil Nadu is pitted against the same opponent, this time in the final beginning on March 8.
The two-and-a-half-month period has seen the team re-discover its mojo; notching up wins, batsmen scoring runs and bowlers picking up wickets. While the spinners have had their way in home games, the speedsters have expressed themselves in away games.
Adding a new hue to its pace attack, comprising L. Balaji, Prasanth Parameswaran and Vijay Shankar, is the 21-year-old Aswin Crist, who has picked up 13 wickets in three matches.
“The team,” says Aswin, “is confident of doing well [in the final against Karnataka], we have been gelling well as a unit, and will play positive cricket.
“Every match has helped me learn. The seniors like Bala anna [Balaji] have been very helpful, be it with tips for a particular batsman or to encourage me when things aren’t going my way.
“To detect a batsman’s weakness is something I am learning along the way.
“All the seniors and those with whom I have played a lot, like Indrajith and Aparajith, regularly chip in and help me evolve,” says the speedster who had an otherwise not so good first Ranji season (just five wickets in five matches in 2013-14).
==================================