Former English spinner Graeme Swann reckons that the premier Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin as the best off-spinner in the world. Ashwin was excellent for India in their first Test defeat to England earlier this month, a performance Swann was eager to praise.

The Indian off-spinner scalped seven wickets for after giving away 121 runs but could not prevent India falling to a 31-run loss at Edgbaston in a thrilling opener to the five-match series, which England leads 2-1 going into the fourth match at Southampton. Speaking to Times of India, Swann said: “Ashwin is easily the best off-spinner in the world. His record in the subcontinent is phenomenal and I loved the way he bowled at Edgbaston. Australia’s Nathan Lyon has come up brilliantly and I am impressed by the fact that he has been successful back home.”

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He further added, “He hasn’t been as effective in England and I would keep Ashwin just ahead of him because of the variations he has, in addition to being brilliantly consistent. [Ashwin] is the best in Test cricket, but in T20s you can’t look beyond [Afghanistan’s] Rashid Khan. He has a fast arm, a great googly and a brilliant story as well. Rashid is just a very exciting cricketer and I would love to see him be successful in Tests as well, as and when he gets to play regularly.”

England all-rounder Moeen Ali was the first choice spinner for the team, but his poor form in Australia and New Zealand forced the team management to left him out of the series against India, having also been omitted from the two-game duel with Pakistan.

But a phenomenal knock of 219 in a recent County Championship match for Worcestershire against Yorkshire, in which he took 8-89 with the ball, has boosted Moeen’s hopes of a recall. Even the inclusion of Adil Rashid was a bit controversial.

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Talking about the same, Swann said: “Yes, we have struggled, but Moeen is a good spinner, but I think he doesn’t believe he is a good spinner. Unless he gets the belief back with the red ball, he will never be able to do the job in Tests. He needs to have more revs on the ball to get the batsmen out.”