As much as the nation is overabundant with fast-bowling talents, a skilful spinner has always been a rarity for England. The condition makes it incredibly difficult for even the most adept spinners to survive.
However, Graeme Swann is an exception that English viewers often flaunt to counter the argument. He is among the rare breeds of spinners who boasts of a better bowling average (28.94) in England than in away conditions.
Meanwhile, Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin’s lethality in Indian subcontinent needs no introduction, but he always had a horrible time playing in SENA countries. He struggles a lot for every wicket, and his effectiveness declines significantly while playing away from Asia.
However, in a recent interview, Swann has stated that Ashwin is an underrated bowler who is equally effective in overseas condition.
“In England or Australia, the whole game is different. In India, there is less bounce and more spin. So there is a bigger margin of error for him. He doesn’t necessarily need a bigger margin of error, but Indian captains can control the pace of the Test match in India, making him extremely effective. He has struggled in England because the conditions are more batting-friendly while facing spin,” Swann said to the Times of India.
The former English bowler further remarked that Ashwin’s decision to bowl leg-spin for a brief period was something he never liked.
“When he came to England in 2018, he bowled beautifully in the first Test. But he had an injury before the Southampton Test and wasn’t able to finish his action.”
“To be honest, he is a much better bowler than people give him credit for in English conditions. He doesn’t need to do a lot different. I just didn’t like it when he started bowling leg-spinners for a brief period,” added Swann.
