The legendary world-class off-spinner and highest wicket-taker in the international cricket, Muttiah Muralitharan nominated the current best spinner in the international cricket.
Former Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan has picked up 1347 wickets in his 495 international career matches. Muralitharan is also the highest wicket-taker in Test cricket as he had picked up 800 wickets in his 133 Tests while he had also picked up 534 ODI wickets in 350 ODI matches, and 13 T20I wickets in 12 T20I matches. The greatest offspinner’s long international career ran from 1992 to 2011.
Now recently Muralitharan nominated the current best spinner in the international cricket. He selected Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and Sri Lankan left-arm spinner Rangana Herath in this category.
When Muralitharan was asked that who is the best spinner in the present international cricket according to him, the former off-spinner told cricket.com.au in Hyderabad, “At the moment it’s (India’s Ravichandran) Ashwin and (Sri Lankan) Rangana Herath. Both together match each other.
“Ashwin has performed better than Rangana Herath last year. I think those two bowlers are at the top at the moment.”
Ravichandran Ashwin
Both the sub-continent spinners have played a crucial role for their teams in the international cricket. Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has picked up 368 wickets in 177 international matches: 176 wickets in 32 Tests, while 142 wickets in 102 ODIs, and 50 wickets in 43 T20Is.
On the other hand, Sri Lankan left-arm spinner Rangana Herath has picked up 389 wickets in 155 international matches: 297 wickets in 67 Tests, 74 wickets in 71 ODIs, and 18 wickets in 17 T20Is.
Rangana Herath
However, Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon and Pakistan leg-spinner Yasir Shah are giving a good fight to the duo, especially in the past two years.
In the past two years, Lyon became the highest Test wicket-taker with 83 wickets while Herath picked up 80 wickets, Yasir Shah picked up 76 wickets and Ashwin grabbed 72 wickets in the Test cricket.
But the former Sri Lankan off-spinner choose Ashwin and Herath as the best spinner(s) in the present international cricket. Recently, Herath took retirement from the limited-over cricket to focus on the Test cricket.
Earlier, former Australian wicket-keeper batsman Adam Gilchrist revealed that he was scared to face Muralitharan during his international cricket.