Mumbai, Nov 22: After an impressive ODI debut against England at the Wankhede Stadium, pacer Varun Aaron made his Test debut at the same venue against the visiting West Indies today. The youngster spoke to the media about his debut and bowling style at the end of day’s play.

Excerpts:

On being informed about his Test debut

I got to know last evening at the team meeting and it’s been a little tough but tomorrow should be good for us.

On making his ODI and Test debuts at Wankhede

I even made my Under-19 debut at Wankhede; it’s been my ground for debuts. My one-day debut was pretty decent so let’s hope I do better tomorrow.

On receiving his Test cap

[VVS] Laxman bhai handed [it] over.

On the Wankhede wicket

The wicket wasn’t bad. It’s [a] good cricket wicket. I feel there will be a lot of runs scored in the next few days. This is not a bad wicket at all. There was a little dampness but it’s just a matter of the first 45 minutes [to] one hour. If the [batsmen] see it off [then] they [can] continue well. There were a few close shaves in the beginning. If we had one or two wickets coming our way in the beginning then things would have been different.

On whether the wicket would change as the game progresses

It’s not going to change much because there is a lot of grass which is going to bind the wicket. It’s not going to break or anything.

On whether the wicket was likely to help his bowling

If it hasn’t helped that much now it’s not going to help much in the latter part of the game.

On bowling his first ball

Everybody is a little tense bowling their first Test ball, that is natural. I feel my first two spells were okay but I bowled better in my third spell.

On the prospect of getting wickets

It’s not going to go your way all the time; you are going to [have to] work hard for your wickets and especially in Tests […] it’s not that easy so I will come back [recharged] tomorrow.

On tips from skipper MS Dhoni

He didn’t give me any tips as such. He just told me to do what I was doing till today and do my natural stuff.

On reverse swing

[There could be some] when the wicket breaks up a little; as of now the wicket hasn’t broken up much. The ball is not getting really rough. In the one-dayers the wicket was slower and breaking up it [resulting in] reverse [swing].

On being the fastest bowler in the team

I feel bowling quick is natural […] it’s a god-given thing. I don’t have any idol as such but my favourite bowler is Andy Roberts.

On whether it was strange to replace Umesh Yadav in the team

It was not strange at all. He is a fast bowler. They wanted to give him a rest before the ODIs, I think.

On the pressure of bowling quick

There is definitely no pressure. It is a compliment that I have been recognised for bowling fast. I want to train hard and do my best in the future.

On bowling short

I think the first ball we were using got out of shape in the beginning. So, if bowled up, it was coming to the bat easily. Then we changed the ball and I bowled one over with the second ball. I bowled an okay length in the beginning. It wasn’t swinging at all in the beginning; maybe the odd ball would get beaten but [that] wouldn’t happen regularly.

On being a fast bowler in India

We have a good set up in India. There is NCA [National Cricket Academy] and there is MRF Pace Foundation where quick bowlers can train. If you have an injury you can always go and recover there. If you stay fit you can always bowl fast.

On what the side were looking to restrict West Indies to

Under 400 should be good.

On bowling fast

Just bowling fast will not get you anywhere. To bowl in international cricket you have to bowl a good line and length.