Ravichandran Ashwin Shines at Chepauk, Monty Panesar Compares Him to Nathan Lyon
Ravichandran Ashwin had a fantastic Test match at his home ground Chepauk, excelling with both bat and ball. He surpassed his Australian rival Nathan Lyon for the most five-wicket hauls in Test cricket.
Former England spinner Monty Panesar believes that while Lyon is a better bowler overall, Ashwin is superior in Indian conditions. Panesar said, “I think I see Nathan Lyon in my opinion. Yes, he is a better bowler. But I think Ashwin is a better bowler in India.”
Both Ashwin and Lyon are renowned for their skill with the ball. Lyon has 530 Test wickets from 129 matches with an average of 30.28, while Ashwin has 522 Test wickets from 101 matches at an average of 23.70.
Panesar highlighted Ashwin’s ability to think like a batter as his biggest advantage. “He is able to pick out the weakness and he can exploit it, and that is his biggest advantage. He bats really well when he bowls; he knows what the batters are thinking,” Panesar said.
However, Panesar feels that Ashwin would not fit into England’s current Test setup due to their focus on experimenting with younger players. “If Ashwin was English right now, then they would have told him to retire because they want to bring youngsters who have the potential to play,” Monty added.
Ashwin, 38, continues to impress as he ages, showcasing his skills in the opening Test against Bangladesh in Chennai. He scored a splendid 113 runs in the first inning and took a six-wicket haul, leading India to a 280-run victory.
Doubts Revealed
Ravichandran Ashwin -: Ravichandran Ashwin is a famous Indian cricketer known for his excellent bowling and batting skills.
Chepauk -: Chepauk is a cricket stadium in Chennai, India, where many important cricket matches are played.
Nathan Lyon -: Nathan Lyon is an Australian cricketer who is also a very good bowler, like Ashwin.
Monty Panesar -: Monty Panesar is a former cricketer from England who used to be a spinner, which means he bowled in a way that makes the ball spin.
Test match -: A Test match is a type of cricket game that lasts up to five days and is considered very important and challenging.
five-wicket hauls -: A five-wicket haul means a bowler has taken five wickets in a single innings, which is a big achievement in cricket.
batting skills -: Batting skills refer to how well a cricketer can hit the ball and score runs.
England’s current Test setup -: England’s current Test setup means the group of players and strategies England uses for their Test cricket matches.
Bangladesh -: Bangladesh is a country in South Asia that also has a national cricket team.
all-round capabilities -: All-round capabilities mean being good at both batting and bowling in cricket.