NEW DELHI: When asked to choose between Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, Australian batters have delivered a unanimous verdict on who is tougher to face.
While both spinners are known for their unique skills, Ashwin’s mastery of variations and ability to exploit even the slightest turn makes him the more formidable opponent in the eyes of the Aussies.
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They highlighted his knack for setting up dismissals with tactical brilliance and his adaptability across conditions. Though Jadeja’s accuracy and all-round capabilities are respected, Ashwin’s intelligence and ability to dominate with spin earned him the edge in this fascinating debate.
Australian to-order batter, Travis Head, who is currently enjoying a stellar run against India, has termed Ashwin as the toughest bowler to face.
“Probably for me, Ashwin, someone with a couple more tricks and being a lot taller and a lot quicker. Yeah, I think he’s probably the hardest,” Head said while revealing India’s best spinner.
Star Australian batter Steve Smith praised Ashwin for his exceptional skills, offering high praise for the veteran off-spinner’s ability and cricketing acumen.
“Ashwin’s got me a few times here. I don’t reckon Jadeja’s got me out here, but I think Ashwin, in these conditions, he’s just got great skills. Changes the way he bowls from surface to surface, he bowls what’s needed. He gets over the top of the ball when he needs to. Can come underneath the ball and reads the batter well, so yeah, I’ll go with Ashwin,” Smith opined.
Australia’s premier fast bowler, Josh Hazlewood, commended Ashwin for his impressive craft, recognising the off-spinner’s skill and mastery in the game.
“I think it would be Ashwin. I hate right-arm off spinners. Being a left hander, I’m not good against much, but righ-arm off is really annoying. But Ashwin’s pretty crafty as his record suggests,” Hazlewood said.
Australian opener Usman Khawaja described Ashwin as the ‘cagiest’ bowler, attributing his long-standing success to his cleverness and tactical brilliance on the field.
“Jadeja’s got a very good skill set. He’s like a metronome. He just goes bang, bang, bang, time and time again. You see Ashwin’s definitely the cagiest. He’s the one who’s thinking out there. Every time I faced Ashwin, he’s trying to think what I’m doing, I’m trying to think what he’s trying to do.
I can see it and you can see when bowlers are trying to figure out a way of getting you out if they’re setting you up. And he’s always been that kind of guy. So I always find facing Ashwin a good challenge and I think that’s why he’s been so successful for such a long time,” Khawaja said.
“I think Ashwin, he finds ways, he’s ultra competitive and gets into the contest,” said Aussie wicketkeeper-batter Alex Carey.
“Ashwin’s obviously got that bounce and Jadeja’s got the consistency and pace. So against me, that’s probably all you need,” reckoned ace spinner Nathan Lyon.
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Prolific Australian all-rounder Cameron Green expressed admiration for both Ashwin and Jadeja, praising their unmatched skills that complement each other perfectly under challenging conditions.
“I think what makes them great is that they just complement each other. Ashwin, he’s always feels like he’s one step ahead. If you feel like you’ve got him, you don’t.
And Jadeja just never gives you an inch, never misses, always bowling at you. If you’re not switched on for a ball, you’re probably gone. So I think that, yeah, the best way to talk about them is probably how much they complement each other,” Green summed up the star spin-duo of India.
