Colombo:  Having put India in a strong position with a five-wicket haul on Day 3 of the third cricket Test against Sri Lanka, medium-pacer Ishant Sharma says he is enjoying bowling with the new ball.

The lanky pacer bagged figures of 5/54 in 15 overs on Sunday to enable the visitors bowl out Sri Lanka for 201 runs in the first innings at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) ground here.

“I think I am enjoying bowling with the new ball. Obviously, if you are playing a Test match, bowling with the new ball, especially with the Kookaburra ball, it seams and swings a bit, so I am enjoying pretty much,” Ishant was quoted as saying by bcci.tv on Monday.

Ishant said the Indians need to keep pitching the ball at a good length and believe they can pick up wickets.

“We are pretty happy after getting a green wicket. What we need to do is bowl in good areas and keep believing in ourselves that somehow we will take wickets. That’s what I have been doing,” he said.

Asked what would be a good score to defend on the SSC ground wicket, Ishant said: “We haven’t set any score yet to be honest. We have to go according to what the situation demands. You could probably say that 300 would be good.”

The Delhi bowler, whose career has been plagued with injuries, said he is having a good time bowling with his younger colleagues in the team and added that they are still learning the tricks of the trade.

“I am enjoying bowling not only with Umesh but with Varun and Bhuvi as well. The thing is they haven’t played many Test matches. Still they are learning. What they need to do is to figure out how they can be consistent to take wickets in international cricket. It all depends on how consistent you are in your line and length. That’s what they need to understand,” Ishant said.

He also added that he does not consider himself the leader of the Indian pace attack, preferring instead to share his experience with his younger team-mates and focus on what he needs to do.

“When I am bowling, I am a bowler and not the leader of the attack. That’s a simple thing. I don’t think about all these things, to be honest, when I am bowling. What I do is I see the wicket, where I need to bowl.

“Whatever experience I have, I share it with them. If they like it, they will take it. They need to be open with that. If they don’t like it, they won’t take it. I think that’s the thing they are going with,” he said.