Nathan Lyon vs Ravichandran Ashwin in Tests - The better off-spinner?

[ExpressPacer]

Yeah, I know Ashwin has great stats and what not but we all know that Lyon wouldn't have been much far behind had he played the same amount of games in such conditions against players who have never played spin in their life.

Anyway, I'm not comparing the two statistically. Who would you pick considering you don't only play in India but around the world too? Also, who do you think would fare better in UAE conditions?

Please compare them both as bowlers. Batting ability should not be considered.

 

[Mamoon]

Ashwin will win India the series against Pakistan in the UAE, Lyon was taken to the cleaners. Lyon is decent, a bit underrated at times, but Ashwin is the best Test spinner in the world without a doubt. Even Yasir is better than Lyon, and he is quite ordinary.

 

[Zak_Fan]

Ashwin miles ahead, not even a comparison. His last couple of series have been quite underwhelming by his standards, but clearly, injury has a played a part in it. He will be back to his best.

 

[vandokkum]

Let Ashwin play full series in England, NZ, SA and Australia. His reputation will go down the drains

 

[ExpressPacer]

Ashwin miles ahead, not even a comparison. His last couple of series have been quite underwhelming by his standards, but clearly, injury has a played a part in it. He will be back to his best.

Even for overseas tours? Do you think Ashwin can do what Lyon did in Adelaide?

 

[Zak_Fan]

Even for overseas tours? Do you think Ashwin can do what Lyon did in Adelaide?

We don't know that. He has been poor in Australia but except that, we don't really have enough sample to write Ashwin off in any country.

 

[marlonbrowndo]

The highly overrated ashwin is still better than Lyon

 

[Xoib]

Ashwin will win India the series against Pakistan in the UAE, Lyon was taken to the cleaners. Lyon is decent, a bit underrated at times, but Ashwin is the best Test spinner in the world without a doubt. Even Yasir is better than Lyon, and he is quite ordinary.

Ashwin will outbowl lyon in Uae because he is more use to these conditions not because he is necessarily a better bowler Lyon has twice outbowled ashwin in Aus thats also not because he is a better bowler.Your answer might be right but your reasoning is poor

 

[Mamoon]

Ashwin will outbowl lyon in Uae because he is more use to these conditions not because he is necessarily a better bowler Lyon has twice outbowled ashwin in Aus thats also not because he is a better bowler.Your answer might be right but your reasoning is poor

The reason Ashwin is the best spinner at the moment is because even when he doesn't find enough assistance to take wickets, he bowls tight because of his guile and variations. He didn't take wickets in Australia but he didn't get thrashed like Tahir or Yasir. Lyon had no idea how to contain the batsmen in the UAE, perhaps he can be given benefit of doubt for one series, but the gulf between him and Ashwin is quite clear.

Nonetheless, Lyon is clearly the best spinner Australia has produced since Warne and deserves a bit more respect and recognition now. He's leagues above any Kiwi or English spinner. Easily the best non-Asian Test spinner right now and the best non-Asian spinner overall without desi genes.

 

[Xoib]

The reason Ashwin is the best spinner at the moment is because even when he doesn't find enough assistance to take wickets, he bowls tight because of his guile and variations. He didn't take wickets in Australia but he didn't get thrashed like Tahir or Yasir. Lyon had no idea how to contain the batsmen in the UAE, perhaps he can be given benefit of doubt for one series, but the gulf between him and Ashwin is quite clear.

Nonetheless, Lyon is clearly the best spinner Australia has produced since Warne and deserves a bit more respect and recognition now. He's leagues above any Kiwi or English spinner. Easily the best non-Asian Test spinner right now and the best non-Asian spinner overall without desi genes.

Ashwin does not bowl tight this is actually his biggest weakness he cant bowl dry on good pitches and stops him from being tier one spinner he has everything else not getting thrashed like tahir and yasir does not means he bowled good dry spells.

 

[soso_killer]

yeah, apt comparison and a tough one. I can't decide but let's wait until the conclussion of this series.
If Lyon has a good series, especialy if he wins this match for Australia Ashwin will have to return the favour in Australia. No excuses!

 

[Mamoon]

Ashwin does not bowl tight this is actually his biggest weakness he cant bowl dry on good pitches and stops him from being tier one spinner he has everything else not getting thrashed like tahir and yasir does not means he bowled good dry spells.

Ashwin rarely gets smashed.

 

[soso_killer]

Ashwin does not bowl tight this is actually his biggest weakness he cant bowl dry on good pitches and stops him from being tier one spinner he has everything else not getting thrashed like tahir and yasir does not means he bowled good dry spells.

let's wait until Ashwin tours away from home before we start putting him in catergories.
He's already started to make excuses about bowling at 60% of max level.
This is convinient coming at the back end of a successful home season and period with away fixtures looming.

 

[Xoib]

Ashwin rarely gets smashed.

Rarely gets smashed does not means bowling dry,on good pitches ashwin gets milked with ease also losses focus much quickly then someone like jadeja

 

[Amirforpresident]

Ashwin miles ahead, not even a comparison. His last couple of series have been quite underwhelming by his standards, but clearly, injury has a played a part in it. He will be back to his best.

Do You think that Lyon would have been a better spinner than Ashwin had he played his whole career on Indian pitches?

 

[London_Lahori]

Let's see how the series pans out.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Lyon has been better this series (uptil now) but overall its Ashwin the bowler by miles.

He has been nowhere his usual self this series and is carrying an injury.

Still the series ain't over.

 

[srh]

Ashwin the spinner is way overrated.

 

[Mamoon]

Rarely gets smashed does not means bowling dry,on good pitches ashwin gets milked with ease also losses focus much quickly then someone like jadeja

That is what I mean by bowling dry. Your definition is different to mine.

 

[cr7great]

lyon is much better than rank turner bowler

 

[hussain123]

Ashwin isn't miles better as some are putting it but comfortably better than lyon up untill now.he has also a big task ahead, of proving himself on non subcontinental wickets.

 

[Pantani]

1. Lyon - at least Ashwin's equal in the subcontinent, miles better everywhere else
2. Ashwin
3. Dilruwan Perera

And that's about it. Moeen Ali is probably the fourth best offie in the world!

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

Huh, the usual Indians bringing Pak into discussion.

YK (pwned Murali, Kumble, Harbhajan, Herath etc.) , Sarfaraz and Misbah would smash Ashwin all day long.

 

[Ab Fan]

Ashwin > Lyon..

He has been far below his level in this series but he has to perform overseas. No excuses there!

 

[Bilal7]

Ashwin in Asia and the West Indies; Lyon outside Asia. In Asia, Lyon cannot make use of the turn and grip on offer, unless he comes up against superstar batsmen who shoulder arms to deliveries heading straight for the stumps.

Outside Asia, Lyon can utilize the bounce on offer and be effective in places like Australia and South Africa, whereas Ashwin can only hope that he gets gifted a wicket.

 

[Zak_Fan]

Do You think that Lyon would have been a better spinner than Ashwin had he played his whole career on Indian pitches?

Not even close. When it comes to rating players, you don't decide the outcome based on a couple of matches that suit your argument. How Ashwin has performed in Asia or WI is ATG stuff, and to say that Lyon would match it is ridiculous.

Yes you can say that Lyon for now is better in certain conditions, and that would be true.

 

[soso_killer]

Lyon has been better this series (uptil now) but overall its Ashwin the bowler by miles.

He has been nowhere his usual self this series and is carrying an injury.

Still the series ain't over.

do you think he'll recover in time for away fixtures?

 

[Bilal7]

Ashwin has had it so easy in India. No other bowler has had it this easy at home. At the worst, he'll get traditional Indian pitches that take turn on day 4 and 5, while offering something to him from day 2 onwards. Every other series however, he gets pitches tailor-made for him.

BCCI is trying way too hard to get their bowling legend, to market him to the Indian population.

 

[Pantani]

People forget Lyon has only played 12 tests in Asia, but he already has two brilliant hauls -7/94 in Delhi and 8/50 today. He will improve his Asian figures undoubtedly.

 

[Pantani]

Lyon in Asia :

12 tests (and one innings). 55 wickets at 34.76, SR 58.2, 3 5WIs.

BBI:
8/50 v India, Bangalore
7/94 v India, Delhi
5/34 v Sri Lanka, Galle
4/53 v India, Pune
3/12 v Sri Lanka, Pallekele

5 great spells out of 25 is pretty good! He has been carted in the past, especially in UAE but you can't deny he can be really threatening in Asia. Five times means it's not a fluke.

 

[ExpressPacer]

The only reason I would give Lyon an advantage is because Ashwin is as innocuous as they come outside Asia whilst Nathan Lyon has proven he is strongest in Aus, RSA yet taken two of his best hauls in Asia.

 

[Protea Fan]

Lyon is a very avg spinner but born in wrong part of the world to compare with ashwin

If he is from asia his stats would have been more ecstatic

Though as a pure spinner ashwin has had much more varieties that make him a better bowler here in this comparison

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

do you think he'll recover in time for away fixtures?

Hopefully.

Right now, he seems to be iffy even on turners.

Lyon comfortably outbowled him in this series until now.

 

[Abdullah719]

Stick to the topic. Thread is not about Yasir Shah or other leg-spinners.

 

[The_Odd_One]

Ashwin is exactly the bowling equivalent of Younis Khan. No bowler in recent memory had it this easy.

 

[Red Devil]

The one who's not a rank turner bully.

 

[Stallion__]

Ash might not be as good as his numbers but he is atleast better than Lyon.

Lyon might have played his last test in Melbourne. Instead, our batsmen decided to bring him back to form so that he can feast on our neighbours

 

[MMHS]

Lyon in Asia :

12 tests (and one innings). 55 wickets at 34.76, SR 58.2, 3 5WIs.

BBI:
8/50 v India, Bangalore
7/94 v India, Delhi
5/34 v Sri Lanka, Galle
4/53 v India, Pune
3/12 v Sri Lanka, Pallekele

5 great spells out of 25 is pretty good! He has been carted in the past, especially in UAE but you can't deny he can be really threatening in Asia. Five times means it's not a fluke.

Might get 13 to 15 wickets in this Test & may be close to 30 wickets in this Series. Besides, he knows how to bowl in AUS, which hardly any touring finger spinner has done ever. He is a classical, olden day's conventional offie, who'll trouble every batsman on turners & left-handers in every wicket.

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

Lyon and O'Keefe have bowled better than ashwin and jadeja. And if Ashwin is injured then he should not play otherwise this should not be used as an excuse for poor performance.

 

[Rayyman]

Lyon is better because he has performed both home and away.

 

[Hasan123]

Ashwin is better but Lyon is underated.

 

[Bilal7]

Ashwin is exactly the bowling equivalent of Younis Khan. No bowler in recent memory had it this easy.

Ashwin averages under 25 in Australia and England? Either this is true or your comparison makes zero sense.

 

[Slog]

Ashwin is exactly the bowling equivalent of Younis Khan. No bowler in recent memory had it this easy.

YK averages 50+ in both Eng, Aus. Do tell me what Ashwin's numbers are in these places? He may also average 50+ but with ball

 

[Joseph Gomes]

Ashwin is still better, although he definitely looks out of form/fatigued. Clearly not the same bowler we saw against South Africa and New Zealand

 

[Nil Dhumrojal]

Awshin was always overrated though he is now one of best. But now ppers are trying to overrate lyon based on one series.

 

[Mobashir]

Thus thread tells you more about the state of test cricket. Two average spinners being compared to each other...
Between the two, Lyon is more difficult to face. Ashwin is often considered the easy option to score runs for touring batsman compared to Jadu.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Ashwin is no match for Lyon this series.

Just unable to sustain the quality for more than a 5-6 overs or max 1 spell.

Things are getting progressively worse for him since the NZ series.

What a shame cos he would have done so much better in these tracks in the past.

 

[Mobashir]

Ashwin is no match for Lyon this series.

Just unable to sustain the quality for more than a 5-6 overs or max 1 spell.

Things are getting progressively worse for him since the NZ series.

What a shame cos he would have done so much better in these tracks in the past.

Always supported the team playing against India, and always considered Jadeja the real dangerous man on these tracks.

 

[Mobashir]

Some facts:

Ashwin has 221 out of 261 wickets in Asia.
Lyon has 128 in Oceania, 55 in Asia and 58 in the rest of the world.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Always supported the team playing against India, and always considered Jadeja the real dangerous man on these tracks.

That is all fine and you are entitled to your view.

I always find it hilarious when people try hard to big up the number 2 guy to be better than the number 1 taking select examples.

Rahul is better than Sachin in tests.

Rahane is better than Kohli in tests.

Jaddu is better than Ashwin in tests.

Not that Rahul, Rahane and Jaddu are bad....they are damn good and have been the best at different stages but the whole world knows who the number 1 is.

When you are successful (like Ashwin in Asia), your failures are discussed more than your success.

Case in point, Ashwin vs Lyon battle, there are countless battles which Ashwin won (even in Aus 2014, both averaged the same in the common tests they played) but one battle Ashwin loses and everything gets questioned.

Would say the same happens with ABD (number 1) vs Kohli (number 2) too. Though jury is still out reg where both stand in ODIs compared to each other.

 

[King Kong]

Some facts:

Ashwin has 221 out of 261 wickets in Asia.
Lyon has 128 in Oceania, 55 in Asia and 58 in the rest of the world.

This is ridiculous and inane. You would expect a player to pick up most of his wickets at home, as Lyon has done. Not defending Ashwin's wicket tally as that's still too high a percentage of wickets at home though he hasn't played much in overseas apart from Australia, but just calling out your flaw and insanity of mentioning Lyon's stats in Oceania. Oceania, really? haha.

 

[Zak_Fan]

Some facts:

Ashwin has 221 out of 261 wickets in Asia.
Lyon has 128 in Oceania, 55 in Asia and 58 in the rest of the world.

More facts :

Ashwin has played 3 Tests in SA, England and NZ combined. Lyon has 15.
Ashwin averages 22 in Asia, Lyon averages 35.

 

[Zak_Fan]

I don't understand how many times a simple thing needs to be repeated, but Ashwin has barely played any "away" Cricket outside of Australia. Throw out your numbers when he has played 5+ Tests in each country like Lyon.

 

[Mobashir]

If Ashwin hadn't the opportunity to play In SA, NZ and England I wouldn't have said anything.

But he was not considered good enough by his team to play there.
So it has to go against him.

 

[Mobashir]

This is ridiculous and inane. You would expect a player to pick up most of his wickets at home, as Lyon has done. Not defending Ashwin's wicket tally as that's still too high a percentage of wickets at home though he hasn't played much in overseas apart from Australia, but just calling out your flaw and insanity of mentioning Lyon's stats in Oceania. Oceania, really? haha.

The problem is not my post but your understanding of it.
I haven't said that talking more wickets In Oceania makes him better but I was just showing that Lyon has a better overall repartition of the number of wickets he took.

 

[Mobashir]

That is all fine and you are entitled to your view.

I always find it hilarious when people try hard to big up the number 2 guy to be better than the number 1 taking select examples.

Rahul is better than Sachin in tests.

Rahane is better than Kohli in tests.

Jaddu is better than Ashwin in tests.

Not that Rahul, Rahane and Jaddu are bad....they are damn good and have been the best at different stages but the whole world knows who the number 1 is.

When you are successful (like Ashwin in Asia), your failures are discussed more than your success.

Case in point, Ashwin vs Lyon battle, there are countless battles which Ashwin won (even in Aus 2014, both averaged the same in the common tests they played) but one battle Ashwin loses and everything gets questioned.

Would say the same happens with ABD (number 1) vs Kohli (number 2) too. Though jury is still out reg where both stand in ODIs compared to each other.

Obviously Ashwin is a better spinner than Jadeja, who is an average darter.
But In these conditions Jadeja is often better than Ashwin.

 

[Haz95]

Ashwin is better than Lyon...but this performance of Lyon is just proving why Ashwin's nowhere near the heavyhitters like Murali/Warne, hell not even among Herath/Swann.

These Indian wickets can make any bowler look like Murali.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Ashwin is better than Lyon...but this performance of Lyon is just proving why Ashwin's nowhere near the heavyhitters like Murali/Warne, hell not even among Herath/Swann.

These Indian wickets can make any bowler look like Murali.

Ashwin and Herath faced off in 2015 on 3 tracks (heavy turner, turner, pace friendly track and barring one innings, Ashwin outbowled him in all the tracks).

Here Ashwin isn't able to pick wickets even on a turner (his supposed strength).

Obviously Ashwin is a better spinner than Jadeja, who is an average darter.
But In these conditions Jadeja is often better than Ashwin.

Jaddu is more than just a darter.

If you look at the data, you would see Jadeja has clicked equally good on pattas and rank turners. He has taken 7fer on pattas and gone wicketless on rank turners too.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

With all being said, I think we haven't talked about how well Lyon bowled here.

They showed the pitch map report of him and it was bang on target.

Beautiful flight, turn and bounce.

We messed up with the bat but the quality of his bowling was head and shoulders above anyone else in the game.

 

[Romali_rotti]

Ashwin is just not the same bowler he was, I wonder if the Hernia injury is still bothering him ? He is looking like he has no ability to take a wicket...................

 

[Romali_rotti]

Anyway this test match is over, 50 run lead is too much for India to recover from, this Indian team is out of form and out of touch in every way............

 

[Ab Fan]

Great application from Australian batsmen...

Ashwin was pretty disappointing. Not anywhere near his best. One gotta blame him for not being able to get those wickets when the backs are against the wall and the opposition was in a stronger position.

I find Jadeja a better performer and stronger character than Ashwin when the opposition is having the better of him.

 

[spade]

Ashwin is the better bowler not necessarily skill wise but, his ability to read the situation and spot the weakness in the batsman makes him the better bowler. He is a limited overs specialist who has evolved his game in the past couple of years, there wasn't any good spinners in India so for him to make the leap was very important.

 

[Bilal7]

Ashwin the ATG has 40 wickets outside of Asia? Wow, superb. Well on his way to becoming an ATG for sure.

 

[Romali_rotti]

I cant help but think had Indians opted to have Yadav the offspinner open the bowling and batting, India may have won this match...........

 

[Ab Fan]

Ashwin the ATG has 40 wickets outside of Asia? Wow, superb. Well on his way to becoming an ATG for sure.

That record is something which he can still improve when he tours away from home.

However, one major issue I see in him is his inability to perform and turn the game even in home conditions when the side is under pump.

The last time India faced a better quality spin attack side than this was England in 2012 and Ashwin was overshadowed by the combo of Swann/Monty and this time he is again going the same route even though opposition dont have that high quality of spinners.

 

[Haz95]

Ashwin and Herath faced off in 2015 on 3 tracks (heavy turner, turner, pace friendly track and barring one innings, Ashwin outbowled him in all the tracks).

Here Ashwin isn't able to pick wickets even on a turner (his supposed strength).

Ashwin is definitely out of form. It's evident by the bolded bit but what irks me as I said in the other thread is that Yasir gets called average/rubbish/blah blah because he's out of form(which he was since he struggled vs West Indies in the UAE) but Ashwin is still hailed as an ATG who's having an off game. I'm not saying he's an average bowler, far from it, he's a brilliant bowler but his fanb0ys make him sound like he's Murali v2

Besides, discussing Herath is the same as discussing YK. Both are past it now, any performances they show now just indicate glimpses of past brilliance or is usally against relatively weaker opposition. Herath was at his best when he took 9fers vs Pakistan so comparing the two based on performances together is rather pointless.

 

[Sachin136]

Ashwin is definitely out of form. It's evident by the bolded bit but what irks me as I said in the other thread is that Yasir gets called average/rubbish/blah blah because he's out of form(which he was since he struggled vs West Indies in the UAE) but Ashwin is still hailed as an ATG who's having an off game. I'm not saying he's an average bowler, far from it, he's a brilliant bowler but his fanb0ys make him sound like he's Murali v2

Besides, discussing Herath is the same as discussing YK. Both are past it now, any performances they show now just indicate glimpses of past brilliance or is usally against relatively weaker opposition. Herath was at his best when he took 9fers vs Pakistan so comparing the two based on performances together is rather pointless.

Ashwin has just struggled in 1 match so far, while Yasir was demolished over an entire series.

"Ashwin is still hailed as an ATG who's having an off game"

Where have you seen this? Everyone is saying that he is struggling and people have started ranking him below Lyon because of 1 match.

 

[Slog]

Lyon can take 10 wickets each match for rest of series and he is not surpassing Ashwin

 

[soso_killer]

It will be humiliating for Ashwin to be out bowled and draw a series @home against a foreign opposition.
Starc wouldn't be out bowled by Sharma in a drawn series in Australia.
He would never allow that, he'd make a point of carrying his side at the very least.

Ashwin 's reputation will take a massive hit hear, especially if he continues doing nothing away from home.

 

[Haz95]

Ashwin has just struggled in 1 match so far, while Yasir was demolished over an entire series.

"Ashwin is still hailed as an ATG who's having an off game"

Where have you seen this? Everyone is saying that he is struggling and people have started ranking him below Lyon because of 1 match.

And the games where he's been comfortably outbowled by his support bowler on flatter wickets, they also apart of the same 1 match? I'm sure a recent 10fer Jadeja took Ashwin posted his career best figure too lol.

ATG is more in terms of figure of speech but I have seen people rate him higher than Kumble who has far better feats...

Ashwin has a much better bowlers brain than Lyon which makes him superior. This thread is more trollish but it's purpose I reckon is to show that anyone can become great bowling on these Indian wickets.

 

[Sachin136]

And the games where he's been comfortably outbowled by his support bowler on flatter wickets, they also apart of the same 1 match? I'm sure a recent 10fer Jadeja took Ashwin posted his career best figure too lol.

ATG is more in terms of figure of speech but I have seen people rate him higher than Kumble who has far better feats...

Ashwin has a much better bowlers brain than Lyon which makes him superior. This thread is more trollish but it's purpose I reckon is to show that anyone can become great bowling on these Indian wickets.

Jadeja is the #2 ranked bowler in the world, so I'm not sure why you expect Ashwin to outbowl him in every single innings. That's like saying Starc is struggling because Hazlewood is bowling better than him.

 

[Haz95]

Jadeja is the #2 ranked bowler in the world, so I'm not sure why you expect Ashwin to outbowl him in every single innings. That's like saying Starc is struggling because Hazlewood is bowling better than him.

I don't. I would however expect him to be the one whos steps up once the going gets tough, as he's done many times before.

 

[troodon]

One poor series and he is worse than Lyon.

Ashwin has been out of sorts since England series. He did manage to get lot of wickets in that series but he did not look the way he did in srilanka or against SA and NZ.

Ashwin needs a long break from cricket. He is overbowled and he is not a fit player like Jaddu.

I remember posters claiming that Moen Ali is better than Ashwin when India toured England.

Fact is, Lyon exploited the conditions better than Ashwin and Okeefe also used the conditions in Pune better than Jaddu. Aus spinners outbowled Indians. Their batsmen also did not donate wickets with poor shots like Indians did.

This is not a 200 pitch. This is a 300-350 pitch. India has a lot of passengers in this squad. Some have taken their places for granted. A wake up call for selectors.

 

[Pantani]

With all being said, I think we haven't talked about how well Lyon bowled here.

They showed the pitch map report of him and it was bang on target.

Beautiful flight, turn and bounce.

We messed up with the bat but the quality of his bowling was head and shoulders above anyone else in the game.

Look at this, his performance is far far superior to Ashwin at this point

The accuracy and consistency is amazing!

Ashwin has been all over the place on the other hand

 

[vandokkum]

When Lyon bowls poorly on unfriendly pitches, he is a crap bowler. When Bradman does badly on turners he is injured, tired, unlucky. If Ashwin played 75 percent of his matches on pitches that have nothing for spinners, his figures will look worse than Lyon.

 

[The_Odd_One]

So, iconic player Ashwin has been figured out in his home country.

I like Ashwin and he is the 2nd best test spinner at the moment behind Herath but I hope his fans have come back down to earth.

 

[Bilal7]

Jadeja turning the game India's way. He's India's best spin bowler.

 

[Ab Fan]

Excellent from Jadeja..

Proved that he is not just a support bowler. Can deliver when the side is under the pump.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

When Lyon bowls poorly on unfriendly pitches, he is a crap bowler. When Bradman does badly on turners he is injured, tired, unlucky. If Ashwin played 75 percent of his matches on pitches that have nothing for spinners, his figures will look worse than Lyon.

lmao....are you intentionally avoiding facts or are you plain ignorant?

Lyon's perception is NOT because of his overall average.

Its because until now, he never did well in Asia.

Last time he toured Asia, he averaged 37. Ashwin averaged 22. We won 4-0.
Last time he toured SL, he averaged 31 on rank turners. Ashwin averaged 18 (played 1 out of 3 on rank turners). India won 2-1 (lost on the rank turner).

So obviously if a bowler who averages 20 in all home Asia series starts bowling crap, then people will give him more leeeway.

Its cricket basics 101.