CricTracker fan poll – 5 best Test bowlers of the year

1. Ravichandran Ashwin – 51% votes

The Indian spin ace has had a dream run in the longest format of the game in 2016. India didn’t play a Test match during the first 7 months of the year and their first assignment was against the Carribeans in July. In the 4-match Test series in West Indies, Ashwin was pretty impressive and bagged 17 wickets in 4 matches at an impressive average of 23.17. India eventually won the series 2-0 and Ashwin played a major role in their triumph.

The No.1 all-rounder returned to familiar territory as New Zealand came to tour India in September. Ashwin who has been on a record-breaking spree created magic and spun a web around the Kiwis batsmen. He finished with 27 wickets in 3 tests at a staggering average of 17.77. His best bowling figures came in the final Test at Indore where he finished with 13/140.

Ashwin again played a very important role along with Ravindra Jadeja during their 4-0 success against England in November. He though wasn’t as lethal as in the New Zealand series but still finished the 5-match series with 28 wickets to his name. His best bowling figures of 12/167 came in the Mumbai Test where India inflicted an innings victory after conceding 400 in the 1st innings.