Ian Chappell picks the top 5 Test bowlers in the modern era

Ian Chappell, the former Australian cricketer, has picked Ravi Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Kagiso Rabada, Ishant Sharma, and Pat Cummins as the top five best Test bowlers in the modern era. Among them, he kept Cummins, who’s the leading wicket-taker in the ICC World Test Championship, at the top. The Aussie speedster has 70 wickets from 14 games in the WTC.

Chappell also stated that Ashwin is a better bowler than Nathan Lyon. Both Ashwin and Lyon are among the top five wicket-takers in the WTC, but as per Chappell, Lyon’s strike rate as a bowler is a tad too high compared to Ashwin.

In his career, Lyon has picked up 399 wickets and is Australia’s second most successful spinner after the legendary Shane Warne. Ashwin, on the other hand, is set to play the WTC final and is four wickets away from being the leading wicket-taker in the championship.

Ravi Ashwin is a better bowler than Nathan Lyon: Ian Chappell

“I think Ashwin is a better bowler than Nathan Lyon. Have a look at Nathan Lyon’s strike rate, you are in the 70s and I am going back to 2018,” Chappell was quoted as saying on the ESPNcricinfo programme ‘Runorder’.

“Nathan Lyon, to me, I think runs get scored through the onside when he is bowling to the right-handers and that really just shouldn’t happen. Yes, he is a fine bowler but I think Ashwin is a better bowler,” he stated.

Chappell also had words of praises for Ishant Sharma, who’s been donning the national jersey since 2007. In the WTC, Ishant has picked up 36 wickets from 11 matches.

“Ishant’s record in the last I think I went back to the start of 2018 and looking at some stats and his record is extremely good,” Chappell added.

As far as Shami and Rabada are concerned, they have also been pretty impressive over the last few years. In 10 Tests in the WTC, Shami has picked 36 wickets and has a chance to add to his tally in the final.

Rabada, in the same tournament, played eight Tests and picked 26 wickets. South Africa couldn’t make the final amidst also a whole lot of controversy in their cricket board.