Saqlain Mushtaq hails Ravichandran Ashwin as ‘world-class spinner’

Former Pakistan off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq is pleased over the evolution of Ravichandran Ashwin as one of the world’s best spinners. Mushtaq, who is the English team’s spin consultant, recently spoke about the Indian offie’s disciplined performance in the ongoing Test series in England and how his capacity to adapt to overseas conditions differentiates him from the others.

Ashwin, a veteran of 61 Tests and owner of 324 wickets, started the Test series well by picking up seven wickets in the first match in Birmingham. He managed only one wicket thereafter in the following two Tests but yet found enough praise for his performance as India’s most experienced bowler in this series. His dismissal of Alastair Cook on both occasions at Edgbaston received a special applause.

Four-five years ago, he was a good bowler but not world class

“Today, he is a world-class spinner. I remember four or five years ago, I spoke that he is a good bowler but not yet a world-class bowler. Back then, I saw potential in him. But it was important for him to play outside India, perform and learn, and only then he would be a ready bowler,” The Indian Express cited reports quoting Mushtaq.

“I think that has happened, and we can see that in the way Ashwin has bowled in this series. The way he is controlling the ball at present, its shape coming out of hand, pace and trajectory shaping up, setting up and trapping left-handed batsmen.”

Ashwin came under criticism in the past for not being as effective overseas as he has been at home. The arrival of a new generation of spinners also put Ashwin’s place in the team under threat but he has shown that he is not afraid of competition by concentrating on honing skills for better shows overseas. He has also proved himself to be handy with the bat, finishing as the top scorer for India on both innings of the Lord’s Test which the visitors lost badly. Ashwin had a decent season for Worcestershire last year both with the ball and bat, taking 20 wickets and averaging 42 as a batsman.

“When I talk to young spinners, I tell them they have to trap different batsmen in different ways. When Ashwin is bowling, you can see he has different plans for different batsmen, and he is working them out. For someone like me who lives in the world of spin, it is enthralling to watch,” Mushtaq, who played 49 Tests and 169 ODIs for Pakistan between 1995 and 2004 taking almost 500 international wickets, said.

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