ENG vs IND 2018, 1st Test: Are Ashwin's Scalps Better than Shane Warne's Ball of the Century? VVS Laxman Answers

A comparison is a thief joy; yes, but, still, they are the only things which keep the discussions healthy and exciting. The recent one in the town is about the Ravichandran Ashwin’s magical deliveries to England’s Alastair Cook.

The discussion hosted by ESPN Cricinfo has raised the comparison between Ashwin’s those two brilliant deliveries to Shane Warne’s ball of the century. However, none of them gave their ultimate decision.

It is going to be tough for England against Ashwin – Steve Harmison

The former English cricketer feels getting a batsman like Alastair Cook for two times in a row is a marathon achievement.

But, he pointed out that Michael Gatting was also a great player who got dismissed by Shane Warne. However, Steve Harmison was very comical during his explanation.

”Yeah, Shane Warne bowled one ball like that to Michael Gatting. He is a big man to get around. Cook is not a big man to get around. But, he did bowl two balls in the space of two days,m arguably, exactly, the same. And, you have to give credit. Alastair Cook has nothing to do with the way he has been dismissed,” Steve Harmison said.

However, Steve Harmison is clear that Ashwin’s deliveries to Alastair Cook have demanded a lot of credit for doing it twice in two days.

I agree with Steve Harmison: VVS Laxman

VVS Laxman added the leg spinners, especially, Shane Warne is an ultimate showman. He feels they turn the ball much more significant to the off-spinners. However, he ended up agreeing to Steve Harmison to the point of doing it twice.

”Well, the leg spinners turn the ball huge. Talk about any leg spinner, especially, Shane Warne is a showman. You won’t get many off-spinners as showmen. Yeah, I agree with Steve. Getting Alastair Cook twice in the span of two days. That is the greatness of Ashwin or that spell from Ashwin. You can get a batsman of Cook quality once but not twice in the same Test match in a similar fashion,” VVS Laxman added.

However, Ravichandran Ashwin turned the tables for India with his impressive bowling spell. Apart from dismissing Cook, he has completed 200 wickets in Tests under Virat Kohli.