I would also like to hear Ashwin in the commentary box. I certainly believe that he is a cerebral person and would be able to completely hold his own in the comm-box.
I certainly hope to hear him dissect bowling plans and batting techniques, without fear or favour (something that Indian commentators and cricket-pundits are reluctant/afraid to do).
HAVING SAID THAT, we must also admit and acknowledge, that Ashwin benefited tremendously from BCCI's policy/strategy of preparing Turners and often RANK Turners in India.
While he averaged over 5 wickets per Test overall - in India his numbers being 5.83 wickets/Test at an average of 21.57; his corresponding numbers
- in Australia are 3.63 wickets per Test at an average of 42.42,
- in England against England are (14 wickets in 6 matches at the cost of 461 runs) 2.3 wickets per
Test at an average of 33, and
- in South Africa are 1.57 wickets per Test at an average of very nearly 50!
Those are scant returns; hardly figures of the 'greatest match winner'. The author has often beaten James Anderson with the same stick.
The fact, that in all those countries, India have won more matches WITHOUT Ashwin, than they have with him in the XI, is a truer reflection of his stature and ability than any other bit of emotion-driven hyperbole.
For such a 'great match winner' he doesn't have a single 5-wicket haul in Australia, England, South Africa and New Zealand (admittedly, the sample size is small - 1 match 3 wickets, average 33).
We all remember him being 'out-bowled' by Panesar, Swann, O'Keefe, Lyon, Kuhnemann, Hartley, Santner, Ajaz Patel and even Glenn Philips in India. But there have been
instances where he has been 'out-bowled' by opposition spinners in England, Australia and even South Africa. I can recall at least 4 such instances.
The author often states that Ashwin and Bumrah are India's greatest match winners. India's own Warne and McGrath! It should be a no-brainer then, that they play together in all matches. Yet Ashwin has been dropped as often as he has been picked in the 'SENA' countries.
That is a truer assessment of Ashwin. Australia would never drop Warne for an Andy Bichel or even a Brett Lee, no matter how spin-unfriendly that wicket might be. (Although they ONCE dropped him for Adam Dale, because Brian Lara had smashed the day-lights out of him.)
Deep down, I am sure, Ashwin knew that he just isn't (and hasn't been) good enough to win matches in these conditions. And when New Zealand dominated him in India, he probably
realized that he isn't nearly the force that he used to be, in India too.
On a more cheerful note, I think his batting had much more potential and he could well have replaced either Sharma or Kohli in the middle-order (on current form),
Beautiful as all your earlier write ups on Ashwin. What I loved about him was he was one of the few top players who actually tried to share their ' process '. This was something everyone talked about but few actually explained. Maybe some couldn't explain it themselves. He was by his own admission not the greatest athlete especially compared to jadeja. This no doubt forced him to go into the minutiae. He remains the only cricketer I actually follow on social media. Yes, we can still watch him in ipl but to watch him in a test match was something else.
Awesome! A great tribute to his genius! Would love to hear you guys discuss about him on @81allout
I would also like to hear Ashwin in the commentary box. I certainly believe that he is a cerebral person and would be able to completely hold his own in the comm-box.
I certainly hope to hear him dissect bowling plans and batting techniques, without fear or favour (something that Indian commentators and cricket-pundits are reluctant/afraid to do).
HAVING SAID THAT, we must also admit and acknowledge, that Ashwin benefited tremendously from BCCI's policy/strategy of preparing Turners and often RANK Turners in India.
While he averaged over 5 wickets per Test overall - in India his numbers being 5.83 wickets/Test at an average of 21.57; his corresponding numbers
- in Australia are 3.63 wickets per Test at an average of 42.42,
- in England against England are (14 wickets in 6 matches at the cost of 461 runs) 2.3 wickets per
Test at an average of 33, and
- in South Africa are 1.57 wickets per Test at an average of very nearly 50!
Those are scant returns; hardly figures of the 'greatest match winner'. The author has often beaten James Anderson with the same stick.
The fact, that in all those countries, India have won more matches WITHOUT Ashwin, than they have with him in the XI, is a truer reflection of his stature and ability than any other bit of emotion-driven hyperbole.
For such a 'great match winner' he doesn't have a single 5-wicket haul in Australia, England, South Africa and New Zealand (admittedly, the sample size is small - 1 match 3 wickets, average 33).
We all remember him being 'out-bowled' by Panesar, Swann, O'Keefe, Lyon, Kuhnemann, Hartley, Santner, Ajaz Patel and even Glenn Philips in India. But there have been
instances where he has been 'out-bowled' by opposition spinners in England, Australia and even South Africa. I can recall at least 4 such instances.
The author often states that Ashwin and Bumrah are India's greatest match winners. India's own Warne and McGrath! It should be a no-brainer then, that they play together in all matches. Yet Ashwin has been dropped as often as he has been picked in the 'SENA' countries.
That is a truer assessment of Ashwin. Australia would never drop Warne for an Andy Bichel or even a Brett Lee, no matter how spin-unfriendly that wicket might be. (Although they ONCE dropped him for Adam Dale, because Brian Lara had smashed the day-lights out of him.)
Deep down, I am sure, Ashwin knew that he just isn't (and hasn't been) good enough to win matches in these conditions. And when New Zealand dominated him in India, he probably
realized that he isn't nearly the force that he used to be, in India too.
On a more cheerful note, I think his batting had much more potential and he could well have replaced either Sharma or Kohli in the middle-order (on current form),
as a pure Batsman.
Ashwin has been India's greatest match winner*.
*Condition apply.
As India's greatest match winner, the comparison is to Indian players who came before him.
Beautiful as all your earlier write ups on Ashwin. What I loved about him was he was one of the few top players who actually tried to share their ' process '. This was something everyone talked about but few actually explained. Maybe some couldn't explain it themselves. He was by his own admission not the greatest athlete especially compared to jadeja. This no doubt forced him to go into the minutiae. He remains the only cricketer I actually follow on social media. Yes, we can still watch him in ipl but to watch him in a test match was something else.
What is the difference between an off-spinners slider and the undercutter?
It has a different wrist position. This explanation is quite good.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgOIyVRrh5M