Ashwin and Yasir Shah are the leading spinners for their respective teams in test matches these days. Both these bowlers played a key role in helping their teams win test series in Sri Lanka after a long time. Yasir Shah has been in the Pakistan test team for 1 year makinh his test debut in 2014 against Australia while Ashwin has been in the Indian team since the last 4 years. Yasir Shah has done well as a spinner picking 61 wickets in 10 matches. He has picked 5 wickets in an innings 4 times while Ashwin the leading spinner for India has picked 5 wickets in a match 12 times. Ashwin is quality spin bowler in all formats while Yasir Shah has become a leading bowler for Pakistan in test matches.
These two bowlers went to Sri Lanka for three match test series and both of them took lots of wickets in those three matches. Now let’s compare the performance of these two bowlers.
Yasir Shah
Yasir Shah was the leading wicket taker for Pakistan in three test matches they played in Sri Lanka. Yasir Shah picked 24 wickets in 3 matches which was best for any spinner in Sri Lanka. His bowling average in the Series was 19.33 and strike 44.1. He bowled with an economy of 2.62 runs per over. The captain called him to the bowling attack and Yasir Shah picked wickets for him. Yasir Shah picked 5 wickets three times in the series which led Pakistan to a test series win after a long time. In the first test match at Galle picked 9 wickets together and put pressure on the Sri Lankan batting line. The second test match at Colombo despite Pakistan losing the test match he picked 6 wickets in first innings and 2 wickets in the 2nd innings. In the deciding test match he picked 5 wickets in first innings and 2 wickets in the second innings. He was very tough to face and bowled with disciplined and never allowed the Sri Lankan batsmen to score freely.
Ravichandran Ashwin
Ravichandran Ashwin played a key role in helping India winning the test series in Sri Lanka after 22 years. Ashwin picked 21 wickets in 3 matches which is best for any Indian spinner in Sri Lanka. His bowling average was 18.09 and strike rate 32.8. He bowled with an economy of 3.30. Ashwin picked 5 wickets in the series 2 times and 10 wickets once. In the first test match at Galle picked 6 wickets in the first innings and 4 wickets in the second innings to pick a total of 10. In the second test match he picked 2 wickets in the first innings and 5 wickets in the second innings to help India level the series at 1-1. In the deciding match he did not pick any wickets in the first innings but took 4 wickets in the second innings to help India win the series in Sri Lanka. Ashwin really bowled with great control and it was tough for the Sri Lankan batsmen to attack. Ashwin always picked crucial wickets and created pressure by bowling superb line and length. He did contribute with the bat in the second innings of the third test match