Look, Stop Trying Your Leg-Spin, Graeme Swann Advises Ravichandran Ashwin

Former England spinner Graeme Swann has advised Ravichandran Ashwin to ditch leg-spin and resort to off-spin.

The former off-spinner was speaking at an event and backed Ashwin, saying if India had to pick a solitary spinner in the playing XI, during the upcoming Test series against England, it had to be the Tamil Nadu star. Ashwin’s reputation has taken a beating in recent times due to his recent struggle in coloured jersey.

While he continues to be India’s premier spin-bowling option in the longer format of the game, when playing in the subcontinent, Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal have replaced him and Ravindra Jadeja in India’s limited-overs sides after the duo’s poor show in the ICC Champions Trophy final against Pakistan last year. The Indian team-management has also made it clear that it would not shy from dropping Ashwin and Jadeja in overseas Tests too. During the tour of South Africa, Ashwin played 2 of the three Tests while Jadeja did not get a single game.

And with wrist-spinners grabbing the limelight in recent times for all the right reasons, Ashwin has added a leg-spin variation to his bowling arsenal. However, Swann is not very much impressed with Ashwin’s attempt. The bowling legend feels that Ashwin can excel with his off-spin in all conditions and asked him to give up on bowling leg-spin.

“It will be Ravi Ashwin. The experience counts for everything; he has done it. But I will take him aside, and I would say ‘look, stop trying your leg-spin. Bowl off-spin, be patient. If you can do it in India you can do it anywhere,” Swann said on the sidelines of an ESPNCricinfo event.

Ashwin has not quite managed to replicate his success in India on overseas tours. Compared to his 263 wickets in 42 Tests in India, he has scalped just 48 wickets in 15 Tests outside India.

However, Swann feels Ashwin can do well in England despite his constant overseas struggles.

“Actually, England is, I always thought the best place to bowl off-spin. I don’t know what India thinks would be. The thing with India is, it’s so hot, and you have to bowl long spells and you get sweaty and tired, but in England the temperature never fights you. You’re always fresh throughout the day. And the wickets do spin, not necessarily on Day One and Two but as the game goes on and it gets dry and dusty, they spin later on. Especially at Edgbaston, Lords, Trent Bridge,” he said.

India will play three T20Is, three ODIs and 5 Tests against England.