Ravichandran Ashwin has been a vital cog in Team India’s wheel for almost a decade now. Although he may not be a part of the limited-overs side, Ashwin continues to play a major role in red-ball cricket. However, he has been rarely successful in SENA countries. Former English spinner Graeme Swann recently explained why Ashwin remained more or less silent in English conditions.
So far, the cricketer from Tamil Nadu has scalped 365 wickets in Test cricket. Out of which, 254 wickets came at home at an impressive average of 22.62. On the other hand, Ravichandran Ashwin has accounted for only 68 wickets in SENA countries (South Africa, England, Australia, New Zealand).
Swann explains why Ashwin struggled in England
As a result, many people have raised questions over Ashwin’s ability. However, Graeme Swann has backed Ashwin stating that pitch conditions are a lot different in England. The former cricketer believes the wickets in England aid the batters more which is why spinners struggle in these conditions.
“In England or Australia, the whole game is different. In India, there is less bounce and more spin. So there is a bigger margin of error for him. He doesn’t necessarily need a bigger margin of error, but Indian captains can control the pace of the Test match in India, making him extremely effective. He has struggled in England because the conditions are more batting-friendly while facing spin,” said Swann in an interview with the Times of India.
“When he came to England in 2018, he bowled beautifully in the first Test. But he had an injury before the Southampton Test and wasn’t able to finish his action.
To be honest, he is a much better bowler than people give him credit for in English conditions. He doesn’t need to do a lot differently. I just didn’t like it when he started bowling leg-spinners for a brief period,” he added.
Meanwhile, Ravichandran Ashwin’s last match came during the two-match series against New Zealand before the lockdown. India had a poor outing losing both the Test match after a dominant run at home.