Former England cricketer, Graeme Swann has accredited team India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin as the best Test off-spinner in the world.
Meanwhile, Ashwin had a great start to the ongoing tour against England. He bagged seven wickets at Edgbaston, although India lost the match by 31 runs. Furthermore, he also bagged the last wicket of England’s innings as India bounced back in the series.
Hailing his heroics in the opening Test, Graeme Swann admitted that Ravichandran Ashwin had proved his mettle in every condition. He further added that Ashwin’s remarkable consistency also adds to his quality.
“Ashwin is easily the best off-spinner in the world, his record in the subcontinent is phenomenal and I loved the way he bowled at Edgbaston (in the first Test).
Australia’s Nathan Lyon has come up brilliantly and I am happy by the fact that he has been successful back home. He hasn’t been as effective in England and I would keep Ashwin just ahead of him because of the variations that he has, in addition to being brilliantly consistent,” Swann said to TOI.
Meanwhile, Ravichandran Ashwin is currently nursing a groin injury he sustained at Trent Bridge. As a result, his participation at Ageas Bowl remains in jeopardy. In the third Test, his injury troubles were seemingly visible as he bowled just one over in the first innings and finished the game with a solitary wicket.
Ashwin is in line to break Sri Lankan legend Muttiah Muralitharan’s record of becoming quickest to 350 Test wickets. He has 324 Test wickets in 61 Tests and needs another 26 in four matches to overhaul Muralitharan’s feat. The Sri Lankan took 350 Test wickets in 66 games.