ENGLAND TOUR OF INDIA, 2016

Anderson's comments on Kohli blown out of proportion: Cook

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Ashwin was displeased with the comments made by Anderson on Virat Kohli's batting at the end of the fourth day's play. © Cricbuzz

R Ashwin picked up six wickets bowling beautifully on day five to wrap up a convincing series victory for India at the Wankhede in Mumbai on Monday (December 12). However, just as England's No 11 James Anderson was walking in, Ashwin welcomed him with a few words, talking to him all the way up to the batting end before he was called back. Ashwin was displeased with the comments made by Anderson on Virat Kohli's batting at the end of the fourth day's play.

"For the first time, I was trying to calm things down," said Kohli in jest. "Ashwin wasn't pleased with whatever (Anderson) said something in the press or something like that. Ashwin told me on the ground, I had no clue about it. So I didn't know what to make of it, I was laughing about it but Ashwin wasn't too impressed so he let him know. Not using any bad words, honestly.

"I think, (Ashwin) told (Anderson) he was pretty disappointed with what he said and it's important to accept defeat the way it is and things like that. You know how Ashwin is, he's to the point, he can really strike you well. He doesn't need to say bad words. That's exactly what happened. Later on, I told James that it's fine, these things happen so let's move on with it," said Kohli.

England's captain Alastair Cook wasn't too happy with the comments that Ashwin made on the field.

"It was a bit of a sour end, a disappointing end in terms of how well the spirit between both sides has been," he said. "It was clearly in reference to what Jimmy said yesterday, which is kind of getting blown out of all proportions, as it can do here. He was just stating a fact about about Virat which is probably true. Yeah, (Ashwin) was just obviously sticking up for his captain, which I thought was slightly unnecessary."

The comments in question made by Anderson were at the end of the fourth day's play in Mumbai. Anderson, when asked what he found different between Kohli in 2014 and now had said: "I'm not sure he's changed. I just think any technical deficiencies he's got aren't in play out here. The wickets just take that out of the equation. There's not that pace in the wicket to get the nicks, like we did against him in England with a bit more movement.

"When that's not there, he's very much suited to playing in these conditions. He's a very good player of spin and if you're not bang on the money and don't take your chances, he'll punish you."

The comments from Anderson weren't intended as a sledge but rather as an honest assessment of what he thought of a member of the opposition. But overnight, the comments, read out of context, had reached so far and wide that it became a part of on-field conversation.

© Cricbuzz

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