Aakash Chopra has picked his top five Test bowlers of 2021. Pacer Jasprit Bumrah and spinner Axar Patel are a couple of star Indian performers who failed to make the list.
India’s star off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, with 52 scalps to his name, is the highest wicket-taker in Tests in 2021 to date. Meanwhile, Axar Patel has the best average (11.86) among bowlers who have picked up at least 15 wickets.
Aakash Chopra Picks England Pace Duo Of James Anderson And Ollie Robinson As Best Bowling Performers In Tests In 2021; Ravichandran Ashwin Lone Spinner
Aakash Chopra did pick off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin as one of the five best Test bowlers of 2021. He is the only spinner on the list. India’s premier off-spinner became the country’s third-highest wicket-taker in Tests recently.
He said the following about the wily spinner in a video shared on his YouTube channel: “Ravichandran Ashwin – he is there. He has picked up 52 wickets in eight matches, he didn’t get to play a single Test against England in England. He was good in the Sydney Test against Australia and the WTC final was also not that bad. He was absolutely sensational in India.”
Veteran England pacer James Anderson also earned the former India cricketer turned commentator’s vote.
Aakash Chopra observed: “Jimmy Anderson’s name is there in this list. 32 wickets in 19 matches, he has played in Sri Lanka, India and at home. He was exceptional in the first Test against India at Chennai, took a five-wicket haul in Sri Lanka as well.”
Ollie Robinson was another English bowler picked by Aakash Chopra.
He reasoned: “Ollie Robinson – he has taken 28 wickets in five matches. His stature is growing. Some of the old issues came to the fore but he just fought through it and he has done very well.”
Ollie Robinson picked up seven wickets in his debut Test against New Zealand at Lord’s. He was dropped after some of his old racist tweets hogged the headlines. However, he bounced back brilliantly against India when he was picked again in the England side.
Aakash Chopra Picked Mohammed Siraj As 2nd Indian Bowler On List Of Best 2021 Test Bowlers While Shaheen Shah Afridi Tops The Charts
Aakash Chopra picked pacer Mohammed Siraj as the second Indian on his list of five best Test bowlers of 2021.
He explained: “I have put Mohammed Siraj’s name in this list. 28 wickets in nine matches, he gave a fantastic performance at Lord’s, good performances in Sydney and Brisbane. He has been continuously doing well. I like his attitude, he makes the ball talk off the surface.”
The reputed commentator concluded by naming Pakistan express pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi as the standout Test bowler of 2021.
Aakash Chopra elaborated: “I am picking Shaheen Shah Afridi as the No.1 Test bowler for 2021. 47 wickets in nine matches at an average of 17. He has been sensational, there was a time where he was taking a five-wicket haul in every match.”
Shaheen Shah Afridi picked 47 wickets in nine matches at an average of 17.06, while Mohammed Siraj, who has picked 28 wickets for India in 2021 at an average of 29.89, is second on this list. Ollie Robinson who has picked 33 wickets in seven Test matches at an average of 20.03 was also included.
England’s James Anderson, who is currently the third-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket, also features in Aakash Chopra’s list. James Anderson, who is currently playing the second Ashes 2021/22 Test, has picked 32 wickets at an average of 24.65. Ravichandran Ashwin who has been phenomenal for India in Test Cricket in 2021 also featured in the list. He picked 52 wickets in eight matches at an average of 16.23.
Aakash Chopra’s top-five Test bowlers of 2021: Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammed Siraj, Ollie Robinson, James Anderson, and Ravichandran Ashwin.