Former Australian spinner Brad Hogg lauded India’s premier Test spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and even went on to add that Ashwin might be able to break Muttiah Muralitharan’s unprecedented record of 800 Test wickets!
The 34-year-old Ravi Ashwin currently owns 409 wickets in 78 Test matches. With an impressive bowling average of 24.69 in the red-ball format, Ashwin crossed the mark of 400 Test wickets following his phenomenal performances against England at home. He has played an integral role in the success of the national team over the last decade or so and is among the best off-spinners in the world right now, if not the best.
Hogg believes that Ashwin will be able to play the sport until he’s 42 and the plethora of variations and options that he holds under his belt will help him even more towards the latter stages of his career.
“Ashwin is 34 now. I think he will probably play till 42 in Tests. I think his batting might drop off but he’ll be more lethal with the ball by the time passing by. I can see him pushing 600+ Test wickets at least. He might even break Muttiah Muralitharan’s record (of 800 Test wickets) as well. The reason why I think he’s so good because he is adaptable and his hunger of continuing to grow up as a cricketer,” Hogg told timesnownews.com.
Ashwin has also been included in the squad to tour England where they will also play the final of the World Test Championship against New Zealand. It goes without saying that plenty will be expected from the off-spinner and conditions in England can often prove to be demanding.
“He also played county cricket to get used to England conditions and that’s how he has become so successful especially in recent years. He’s definitely the best off-spinner in the world right now but we can’t call him the greatest off-spinner of all time due to the change of rules and conditions,” Hogg further added.
The former Australian spinner also praised Aswhin’s competitiveness and said that there’s little room for complacency in his game. He also mentioned that his respect for Ravichandran Ashwin had increased after India’s historic conquest in Australia earlier in the year where once again Ashwin played a starring role.
“Ashwin doesn’t like to be beaten whenever he’s in a contest. He is someone you want to play against because you know that you’re going to be tested and you can test him as well. I think he’s a very good chess player out of the cricket field. I have respect for Ashwin especially after he showed the courage of playing in tough conditions in Australia in the last tour. It’s a privilege to play against him and he’s been brilliant,” concluded Hogg.
