Graeme Swann picks India's Ravi Ashwin as the best off-spinner in Test cricket currently

Sudhir Gupta 13:26 28/08/2018
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  • Ravi Ashwin has come in for some praise from Graeme Swann.

    Former England spin ace Graeme Swann has picked India’s Ravichandran Ashwin as the best off-spinner currently operating in Test cricket.

    The senior India spinner has been in decent form in the team’s ongoing five-match series against England and picked up a seven-wicket haul in the first Test at Edgbaston.

    Swann, who picked up 255 Test wickets for England in 60 matches, believes that Ashwin has the edge over Australia’s Nathan Lyon among the current crop of off-spinners.

    “Ashwin is easily the best off-spinner in the world. His record in subcontinent is phenomenal and I loved the way he bowled at Edgbaston,” Swann told the Times of India.

    “Australia’s Nathan Lyon has come up brilliantly and I am impressed 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 he has, in addition to being brilliantly consistent,” the former England off-spinner added.

    Lyon's success on Australian pitches has impressed Swann.

    Lyon’s success on Australian pitches has impressed Swann.

    While Ashwin is Swann’s pick in Test cricket, Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan is the Englishman’s choice for the best T20 spinner in the world.

    “Yes, (Ashwin) is the best in Test cricket, but in T20s you can’t look beyond Rashid Khan. He has a fast arm, a great googly and a brilliant story as well,” he said.

    “Rashid is just a very exciting cricketer and I would love to see him be successful in Tests as well, as and when he gets to play regularly.”

    England, meanwhile, have struggled to replace Swann’s quality in the spin department ever since his retirement and the former off-spinner believes Moeen Ali can fill that hole if he can get his confidence back.

    “Yes, we have struggled, but Moeen is a good spinner, but I think he doesn’t believe he is a good spinner. Unless he gets the belief back with the red ball, he will never be able to do the job in Tests. He needs to have more revs on the ball to get the batsmen out,” Swann stated.

    England and India will lock horns in the fourth and penultimate Test of the five-match series at Southampton on Thursday.

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