Legendary spinner Shane Warne believes that Ravichandran Ashwin and Nathan Lyon have the ability to take their Test wickets tally to 1000. Currently, Sri Lanka‘s off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan is leading the chart with 800 Test wickets while Warne himself sits at no.2 with 708 scalps in Test cricket.
Ravichandran Ashwin and Nathan Lyon, who have 430 and 415 Test wickets in their kitty respectively, are leading spinners in the longest format. Warne stated that they could reach the four-figure mark, it would be fantastic for the game.
Ashwin picked 430 wickets in 84 Test matches
Speaking to Hindustan Times when Shane Warne was asked if the duo can surpass the tally of Muralitharan, he said, “I hope both Ashwin and Lyon do, 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.”
“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.” he added further.
Warne lauded Ashwin for his constant evolvement as the off-spinner keeps adding new variations in his arsenal. However, Warne expects that he would raise his game more in overseas conditions. Notable that Ashwin played a big role when India won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia in 2020-21 as he took 12 wickets in 3 Test matches which included some key wickets.
“I am a big fan of Ashwin, the way he bowls. I think he is always trying to develop and explore different deliveries,” Warne said.
“Ashwin is getting better and better. He has been fantastic. 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.” he added.
Warne also doesn’t believe that the combo of Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav has declined. Notable that at one time the duo was a key figure in India’s white-ball success but things have changed dramatically in the last one or two years. Warne stated that it’s difficult to break into the squad when the likes of Ashwin and Jadeja are already there.
“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,” he stated.
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