Best Asian spinner in Tests outside Asia (among the current players)

[RainMan_]

It’s a well-known fact that Asian spinners generally struggle with the ball outside Asia. We have seen Ashwin to get massacred in South Africa, England or Yasir Shah to get pulverized in Australia.

These two aren’t the exceptional case. Over the years many good Asian spinners like Kumble, Harbhajan, Ajmal, Saqlain etc,etc have struggled whenever they bowled in AUS, SA , ENG and NZ in test. But I m more interested about the performance of current Asian spinners outside Asia (excluding WI).

1. Yasir Shah
As a premier spinner of Pakistan cricket team he has a poor record in countries like Australia, New Zealand and England. Even though his fifer at oval has helped Pakistan to draw the test series against England, but his overall record as a spinner outside Asia isn’t respectable.
Wickets: 27, Bowling Avg: 55

2. Ashwin
Even though many people love to claim Ashwin as one of the finest Indian spinners, his performance outside Asia is nothing short of miserable. He is one of the main reasons why India has failed as a test team outside Asia even after having a good pace attack.
Wickets: 42, Bowling Avg: 46

3. Herath
Even a veteran performer like Herath has struggled whenever he has been asked to bowl outside Asia in test.
Wickets: 57, Bowling Avg: 42

4. Jadeja
Jadeja has always failed in countries like SA, NZ and ENG as a spinner.
Wickets: 18, Bowling Avg: 46

5. Shakib Al Hasan
Shakib is one of the very few Asian spinners who has performed well outside Asia in recent past. What makes him even more special is the fact he has an excellent record even with the bat in those countries. Furthermore, Bangladesh never had a decent bowling attack.

We all know that bowlers hunt in pack. Most of the time rest of the Bangladeshi bowlers couldn't create pressure from their end and made the job twice more difficult for Shakib. But as we can see that even after having those disadvantages Shakib has managed to outperform most of his contemporary Asian spinners outside Asia.
Wickets: 28, Bowling Avg: 31

 

[Stewie]

Well based on average its shakib, isnt it?

 

[Minnowbasher]

Moeen Ali

 

[MMHS]

Moeen Ali

His stats are good actually from 26 Tests, if I consider him Asian from ethnicity (though he was born in UK & plays for ENG).
Wickets: 68, Bowling Avg: 41

But still it's inferior than his overall stats.

 

[Last Monetarist]

His stats are good actually from 26 Tests, if I consider him Asian from ethnicity (though he was born in UK & plays for ENG).
Wickets: 68, Bowling Avg: 41

But still it's inferior than his overall stats.

I think you've misread something, his actual stats are 51 wickets in 22 tests at 52 apiece.

 

[MMHS]

I think you've misread something, his actual stats are 51 wickets in 22 tests at 52 apiece.

I ran the quarry while watching tennis - ran 2nd time; Moeen in ENG, AUS, SAF, NZ & WIN; it's coming same.

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...orderby=default;template=results;type=bowling

 

[Nikhil_cric]

If we are considering Asian ethnicity then brother Keshav us the best. From the list though, I'd pick herath.

 

[RainMan_]

If we are considering Asian ethnicity then brother Keshav us the best. From the list though, I'd pick herath.

Sorry, we aren't considering ethnic Asian players who plays for non Asian teams here

Maharaj is supposed to know the right pace and length to bowl in pitches of South Africa since those r his home turf.

This thread is about the performance of spinners outside Asia who plays for Asian teams.

 

[RainMan_]

Well based on average its shakib, isnt it?

Right. That guy is a world class spinner and would have become a GOAT allrounder had he played for a better team. He's the one of the most successful Asian spinners outside Asia.

 

[Hasan123]

Nathan Lyon for me.

 

[Last Monetarist]

I ran the quarry while watching tennis - ran 2nd time; Moeen in ENG, AUS, SAF, NZ & WIN; it's coming same.

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...orderby=default;template=results;type=bowling

Ah got it. I was confused and looking at the pure away record.

I'd argue that this analysis is flawed given that Moeen's ethnicity is irrelevant in the grand scheme of things if he received his formative training on the pleasant fields of England.

 

[Ab Fan]

Herath takes the cake IMO. Averages 42 outside Asia, which will be even lower if we exclude WI where he didnt bowled much.

 

[TeymurBlake]

Yeah I agree with many bro's here in taking Herath over all of them currently.

 

[RainMan_]

Herath takes the cake IMO. Averages 42 outside Asia, which will be even lower if we exclude WI where he didnt bowled much.

That's his Avg excluding WI. Ashwin will have a much more respectable figure if WI is added to the list.

 

[RainMan_]

Shakib and Herath r two of the best spinners from Asia with shakib leading the way in last 10/12 years.

 

[BDfanforever]

Shakib and Herath r two of the best spinners from Asia with shakib leading the way in last 10/12 years.

It doesnt matter and not a stat i would be keen on anyway. BD hardly plays away tests.

 

[the_outsider]

I've always maintained that Shakib is the only true all-rounder currently in test cricket.

A very underrated player who does well across all formats.

 

[ChuckLee]

My boy Herath is the best. He’s so under rated.

 

[Ab Fan]

Nathan Lyon for me.

Mate, the thread says, "best Asian spinner"!

 

[RainMan_]

It doesnt matter and not a stat i would be keen on anyway. BD hardly plays away tests.

That's what makes him more special, doesn't it? He has done well every time he got the opportunity.

Asian spinners generally struggle to identify the proper length and pace to bowl on non Asian pitches, especially in their first tour. But Shakib as a spinner is of a different class class all together which is why he has such an exceptional recored outside Asia where many overhyped Asian spiner got smashed throughout their career.

The only reason he doesn't average below 25 with the ball at home is due to the fact Bangladesh in the past used to dish out flat wickets to the touring teams to take the test to the final day. Thankfully it has changed recently and we also started to produce sporting events spin friendly wickets.

But bowlers like Ashwin or Herath has made out a career by playing on dust bowls of India or SL. Just imagine what Shakib could've done with the ball if he had got the chance to bowl on the types of pitches ashwin or herath bowled throughout their career.

 

[Hasan123]

Mate, the thread says, "best Asian spinner"!

Lol I missed it )

 

[the_outsider]

But bowlers like Ashwin or Herath has made out a career by playing on dust bowls of India or SL. Just imagine what Shakib could've done with the ball if he had got the chance to bowl on the types of pitches Ashwin or Herath bowled throughout their career.

Apart from 4 test matches in the last 21 tests spanning back to January 2015, India has not served any rank turners. Indian pitches, since the start of the millennium.

Since January 2015, however, in just 11 tests, Bangladesh has produced multiple rank turners.

Since 2015, in 21 tests in India, only once has a match ended in 3 days - vs Aus (Pune, 2017). In just 11 matches, Bangladesh has 2 such instances - vs Eng (Dhaka, 2016) and vs SL (Dhaka, 2018).

In 32 first innings in India since 2015

- a team total of 299+ has been crossed 23 times i.e. 72%
- a team total of 400+ has been crossed 15 times i.e. 47%

In comparison, in 21 first innings in Bangladesh since 2015

- a team total of 299+ has been crossed 10 times i.e. 48%
- a team total of 400+ has been crossed 5 times i.e. 24%


Bangladesh has been continuously producing rank turners for the last 2-3 years. Indian tracks have been batting friendly most of the time throughout the 2000s, let alone the last 3 years.


I agree with you in that Shakib is a fantastic spinner, the best Asian spinner in SENA and the best test all-rounder in the world currently.