The fourth Test between India and England in Southampton has thrown up some interesting patterns. Aside from the riveting cricket on offer, what has been noteworthy is the performance of the spinners from both the sides.
England's Moeen Ali, who is more of a batting all-rounder, rattled the Indian batting with a terrific five-wicket haul in India's first innings. Meanwhile, Ravichandran Ashwin, India's lead spin bowler, returned with figures of 2-40 in the first innings followed by 1-78 in a 35-over spell in the ongoing second innings.
Simply put, Ashwin's performance in the Test and the series overall has been disappointing. Because barring his performance in the Birmingham Test, the off-spinner has been unable to sustain pressure and take wickets regularly in this series.
His inability to procure wickets in the ongoing Test, on a pitch that aiding spin bowling, has yet again put a question mark over Ravi Ashwin's effectiveness as a strike bowler for India in overseas Tests. Yes, he is undoubtedly India's ace weapon when playing in Asia but there is no denying now that he keeps faltering outside the sub-continent.
A look at his home and away numbers would give better clarity. While Ashwin has captured 225 wickets from 36 Tests in India, he only has 102 wickets in 26 Tests away. Take the 38 wickets in 6 Tests in Sri Lanka and 5 wickets in 1 Test in Bangladesh, and he would be left with only 59 Test wickets in 19 Tests outside Asia. That is a very poor record for someone who is supposedly the number one spin bowler in the world at present.
One of the most evident failings of Ashwin's bowling outside Asia is that he doesn't give the ball as much flight as he should and bowls much quicker through the air rather than slowing it up. That perhaps reduces his ability to extract purchase out of pitches abroad.
Ashwin's performance in Southampton Test has been particularly disappointing. Captain Virat Kohli gave him a long spell and there was ample rough on the pitch for him to exploit like Moeen did. But Ashwin kept bowling either full length or back-of-length that allowed the England batsmen to comfortably manoeuvre him on the leg and off sides. For a spinner of Ashwin's experience, this was unexpected.
In the current series against England Ashwin has 11 wickets in 4 Tests at an average of 32.18. He has looked nowhere near the match-winner he is when bowling on sub-continental pitches. But can India afford to use a lead spin bowler with such disparities in his bowling effectiveness home and away?
India will be touring Australia later in the year where the pitches would be even lesser conducive to spin bowling and where Ashwin has 21 wickets in 6 Tests at a horrible average of 54.71.
It is about time perhaps that the Indian team management has a serious rethink on the Ashwin issue on their overseas tours. There are other talented young Indian spin bowlers emerging and if Ashwin is not performing as per expectations outside Asia, it would be prudent to begin looking at alternatives and giving them opportunities now.
