The veteran Indian spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin has always been a crucial cog to the Indian team. He has been the frontline spinner in the longest format of the game. Ashwin has already scalped 430 wickets in 84 Tests at a phenomenal bowling average of 24.38. He also has seven 10 wickets haul in the longest format of the game.
Ravichandran Ashwin has been performing well overseas and played a key part in the historic Test series win against Australia last year. Former Australia leg-spinner, Shane Warne has high praises for Ashwin saying that he is improving with each day and has been fantastic.
As per the quotes in Hindustan Times, Shane Warne said, “Ashwin is getting better and better. A true test of any cricketer is how they go away from home. Over a long period of time when you go to different countries and see how you perform overseas and then you end up having a record – both home and overseas, it gives you an idea as to how far you’ve come as a player. I think he is always trying to develop and explore different deliveries.”
ALSO READ: Shane Warne Feels India’s Future Can’t Be A Wicket-keeper
Nathan Lyon is another quality off-spinner in the cricket world currently. He has scalped 415 wickets from 105 Tests to his name. Ashwin has a slightly better record than Lyon while bowling overseas. Also, he took 12 wickets in the last year’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne are at the top of the list of all-time highest wicket-takers in Tests with 800 and 708 respectively.
Speaking on both of the spinners, Shane Warne said that he is hopeful that both of them will get 1000 Test wickets.
Shane Warne said, “I hope both Ashwin and Lyon do (break Warne and Muralitharan’s record), because the more we see quality spin bowlers bowling, it makes for more interesting cricket. I think when you watch a pace bowler bowl real fast and a batter trying to take them on and then you see a really good spinner and that battle between him and a spinner.”
He further added, “And you see that battle evolve. If you can see those two things in Test cricket, I think it becomes more entertaining. So if we can have that, then I hope Ashwin takes 1000 Test wickets, Lyon takes 1000 Test wickets. That would be fantastic.”
Shane Warne also shared his insights on the Indian leg-spin duo of Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav saying that they have lost their place in the squad as the duo of Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja has done better.
WATCH – Nazmul Islam does Pushpa steps after taking a wicket
Elaborating the same, Shane Warne said, “I’m not sure they have declined. When you have Ashwin and Jadeja, two wonderful bowlers, it’s very hard to get into the team. Kuldeep is a wonderful wrist-spinner, so is Chahal. But it’s tough to get into the team when you’ve got Ashwin and Jadeja. So I don’t think they’ve had a downfall or anything like that, or drop in form. I just think the other two are doing really well.”
