India’s Ashwin, the top-ranked ICC Test bowler and Shah, who became the joint-second fastest player to reach 100 Test wickets after helping Pakistan to victory over West Indies in Dubai earlier this week, have both taken the lion’s share of their victims in spin-friendly sub-continent conditions.
In-form Ashwin – the second-fastest bowler to 200 wickets – has taken 179 of his 220 Test scalps in Asia but has played the bulk of his five-day matches there (26 out of 39), while leg-spinner Shah has only played four of his 17 Tests away from the UAE, Bangladesh or Sri Lanka – snatching 19 wickets during the recent tour of England at an average of 40.73 – a far cry from his overall 27.89 record.
Warne was actually less fruitful in Indian conditions and averaged 34 wickets at 43.11 from nine matches but is renowned for the way he worked out plans and studied batsmen to pick up wickets everywhere he bowled. And he feels the game’s current two best spinners need to adopt a similar approach.
“I love what they’re both doing and making their marks in the record books,” the Australian legend told Sport360° exclusively at the launch of the new Advanced Hair Studios in Dubai.
“But, to me, when I look at those two, I want to see how they go on hard bouncy wickets over a period of time that don’t suit the spinners and they have to adapt.
“Their respective records aren’t good outside their comfort zone, I’m not trying to be negative as you don’t decide where you play as a player, but the sign of a top bowler is that he can bowl in all conditions and be a match-winner.”
Warne admits spinners have to learn on the job now, and don’t get the time to craft the art like he did. It’s a position the game’s secondhighest wicket-taker of all time doesn’t envy but insists they have to make the best of it.
“I’m looking forward to seeing how Yasir bowls in Australia soon and I loved working with him in the UAE last year. He’s got the best leg-break but he’s not very patient – that can happen when young bowlers are getting their first chance on the T20 scene and aren’t allowed to hone their skills and execute the same delivery twice.”
With a big series against England on the horizon for India, 30-yearold Ashwin should be able to build on his 49.4 strike rate – which is the best among all 19 spinners who have taken over 200 wickets.
Warne is more concerned about Australia’s poor form and big home encounters coming up against South Africa and Shah’s Pakistan.
After a disastrous 3-0 Test series defeat in Sri Lanka and a 5-0 oneday whitewash by the Proteas, the Ashes hero has criticised the team’s coaching methods – as he thinks the onus on sports science is too great.
“For a long time Australia haven’t been involved in too many losing whitewashes, so that’s a concern in all forms of the game. They haven’t really played well for a while now and I’m not sure if I agree with the resting policy (with captain Steve Smith returning home early from Sri Lanka), there seems to be too much of that. I really hope that science isn’t dictating common sense.
“For me, science should back up cricket smarts, not the other way round. I think science in all sports is taking too much of a lead where the stats say he’s bowled X amount of deliveries and could get injured as a result, so needs a rest. I just don’t agree with that at all.”
