Graeme Swann, the former England cricketer recently stated that he wants the Indian leggie, Yuzvendra Chahal to play Test match cricket for India. Swann also stated that he is impressed with the leggie’s composure and proficiency to bowl in crucial situations.
Swann, who has represented England in 60 Test matches, was speaking with the Times of India, the news agency. On asking if he had put Chahal in the Test squad if he was a selector, Swann said: ” I’d sit down with Yuzi and I’d say, ‘What is it? Do you want to play for India?’ If he does, I’d have him in the squad straight away.”
Moreover, he added: “I think he is world-class, he is the best spinner in the world in my opinion. His control, bowling leg-spin in very tricky conditions, especially when that ball gets dew on it and gets wet is incredible.”
— Yuzvendra Chahal (@yuzi_chahal) June 11, 2022
‘Some cricketers have been pigeonholed into the white-ball format’ – Swann
Swann himself had been an off-spinner and thinks that some current spinners these days, are not as much as drawn to Test cricket as earlier. Precisely because of the hard work it requires on the fingers, body, and mind.
Furthermore, on being asked if selectors put spinners in a restrictive format easily, Swann quoted: “Definitely people get pigeonholed into one or the other format and can then find it hard.”
Swann added: “Well, I should say Yuzi is the best white-ball spinner then because we don’t know if he can be the best red-ball spinner. But it shows that some cricketers have been pigeonholed into the white-ball format.”
Besides, Chahal hasn’t played a single red-ball game since his international debut. The 31-year-old has represented India in 61 One Day Internationals and has 104 wickets in his account; while in 60 T20Is, the leggie has picked 75 wickets.
Written by Prachi Pisal
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