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Which bowler would you prefer between Yasir Shah and Ravichandran Ashwin in Tests?

Who would you prefer between Yasir Shah and Ravichandran Ashwin (Tests)?

  • Yasir Shah

    Votes: 118 62.1%

  • Ravichandran Ashwin

    Votes: 72 37.9%
  • Total voters
    190
Square Drive

Square Drive

Test Star
Joined
Aug 30, 2011
Runs
37,660
Had to set up a thread like this. :steyn

If you had to pick one in your team, who would it be?

Mods - please add a poll - thanks!
 
I'll take Yasir. A leggie is always a better option outside SC. Also Yasir has never had the opportunity to bowl on rank turners with an SG ball that grips and turns.
 
Ashwin trumps Yasir with his batting ability.

Bowling wise, they both are equal to me in terms of talent.
 
Yasir shah it is for tests...

However, Ashwin all the way for ODIs (if the OP asked the question for ODIs).
 
Both?:afridi:

Seriosly though, I'm not sure!

They both have their own pros and cons. Might have to go for Ashwin just because of his batting!
 
Enjoy Legspinners more than offspinners. Yasir would be my personal choice HOWEVER I've only seen Yasir in 3 series. He looks good but Ashwin has been dominating the subcontinent for quite some time. So it's a tie for me
 
Square Drive said:
Had to set up a thread like this. :steyn

If you had to pick one in your team, who would it be?

Mods - please add a poll - thanks!
Click to expand...

If I had to pick one it would be Yasir. Purely because I would be an attacking captain and whats more attacking than a leggie who can bowl rippers from outside the line of the stumps hitting middle
 
Leggies always have more potential. So Yasir can turn into something special.

As of now, he is new.

As a package, I would go with Ashwin for sure.

India's most valuable test player.

He has like 4 Man of the series in 6 series in Asia.

Bangladesh test didn't have MOS. The others where he didn't win were England (where he got owned in 2012) and WI (SRT farewell) where him and Rohit were close contenders which Rohit won (fairly).

Among Indian test players, hje has equalled Kumble, Dravid, Kapil Dev and Bhajji in the amount of MOS he got and is just behind Sehwag and SRT. All while playing 1/5th - 1/10th of the tests they played.

123.JPG

He is dwarfing all other Indian test players when it comes to impact in a series (not talking about overall quality).
 
Ash anyday. I would even take Mishra over Shah due to his batting abilities.

Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk
 
I have a big soft spot for Leggies being one myself and nothing is more beautiful then watching watching a leggie in full flow; the art is captivating. Am going with Yasir also because of the versatility he'd bring to the team in different conditions, plus he's a wicket taking option straight away when you bring him on.
 
Of course, it goes without saying...batsmen don't win MOS as easily. Its easier for a bowler to win MOS (in lesser matches). Dev, Bhajji, Kumble, Zaheer and Ash are examples.

But this guy is outperforming other Indian bowlers (including spinners) by a mile when it comes to impact in a series (which is one indicator but not the be all and end all when judging quality).
 
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I believe that Yasir Shah is the better bowler but Ashwin is the better package, given his batting ability. So it would have to be the offie.

Also, why are people saying that leggies are better than offies? We have had a handful of leggies that can be considered good while a lot more off-spinners have had successful careers.
 
Bilal7 said:
I believe that Yasir Shah is the better bowler but Ashwin is the better package, given his batting ability. So it would have to be the offie.

Also, why are people saying that leggies are better than offies? We have had a handful of leggies that can be considered good while a lot more off-spinners have had successful careers.
Click to expand...

People saying leggies who get it right have a better potential which is true.

Yasir has the potential to get it right.

No one rates leggies like Tahir (in tests) or Chawla just cos they are leggies.
 
sensible-indian-fan;7994083[B said:
]Of course, it goes without saying...batsmen don't win MOS as easily. Its easier for a bowler to win MOS (in lesser matches).[/B] Dev, Bhajji, Kumble, Zaheer and Ash are examples.

But this guy is outperforming other Indian bowlers (including spinners) by a mile when it comes to impact in a series (which is one indicator but not the be all and end all when judging quality).
Click to expand...

This is because bowlers win matches, as far as test cricket is concerned. You can score 400 runs in an innings but that won't guarantee your team the victory. Take 13-15 wickets cheaply though and your team will win 9 times out of 10.
 
Bilal7 said:
This is because bowlers win matches, as far as test cricket is concerned. You can score 400 runs in an innings but that won't guarantee your team the victory. Take 13-15 wickets cheaply though and your team will win 9 times out of 10.
Click to expand...

I know bro. Which is precisely I added that point.
 
sensible-indian-fan said:
People saying leggies who get it right have a better potential which is true.

Yasir has the potential to get it right.

No one rates leggies like Tahir (in tests) or Chawla just cos they are leggies.
Click to expand...

Some of the comments make it seem like leg-spinners are better than off-spinners, by definition, which isn't true.
 
Depends on what the rest of the team looks like. If it's already a strong batting line up then I'd choose Shah. If it's an average batting unit then Ashwin's 30+ test batting average is hard to ignore.
 
Ashwin

Right now, in my eyes he is the most important cog in the Indian team. Both inside and outside home conditions.

An all-rounder of great skill
 
Those who are picking Ash because he can bat have no clue how test matches are won 99% of the time.
 
www787 said:
Those who are picking Ash because he can bat have no clue how test matches are won 99% of the time.
Click to expand...

Ashwin is almost as good with the ball. His batting makes him a more valuable player.
 
Ashwin is a better batsman and a better ODI bowler as well. But as he is an off spinner. No knows if he is chucking or not.
Also leggies are much more preferred in tests. So would take yasir in tests and ashwin in LOIs provided he doesnt chucks.
 
I would always take a leggie over an offie, however Ashwin has the superb asset of averaging almost 40 with the bat.

Two fabulous cricketers.
 
If we're comparing all formats, I'd take Ashwin but in tests it's Yasir even if Ashwin is the better batsman.

The thing about leggies is that they create their own turn making them effective on any track but if you give them a turner, they become nearly unplayable.
 
Yasir is yet to play outside subcontinent. let him play there, and then we can decide who is better. He is a better prospect than Ashwin for sure (since he is a leggie). But that doesnt mean he is better than Ashwin. it is still not clear.
 
Lets be honest, we all have soft spot for talented leg spinners. They are just sexy. Yasir seems to be a very good lad and i have no problems in supporting him. May he go on to reach ATG levels
 
Yasir has potential but presently Ashwin just edges him. Yasir needs to show more against England in UAE and in England
 
Yasir cause he is a leggie and I'm a leggie. I get orgasm watching him bowl, especially when he applies various amount of top spin in his leggies.
 
Depends on the team and the pitch. Ashwin I would play on rank turners as he can bat as well so might be valuable with the bat down the order and will be as effective as Yasir on a turning track. Yasir I would prefer on flatter tracks as he will be able to get more spin and as the tracks would be flatter wont need an extra batsman to shore up the batting.
For the current Pakistan team I would take Yasir over Ashwin as I feel with Sarfaraz and hopefully Wahab in the side we dont need to shore up our batting. But would probably play both as we dont have a really good 2nd spinner.
 
Ashwin because he can bat very well, is a very good catcher and has a great cricketing brain.

My favorite Indian cricketer for quite a while, has the potential to be a legend.
 
As a bowler I'd go with Yasir. As an overall cricketer then Ashwin.
 
I will reserve judgement until Yasir plays in Australia. Ashwin was pretty shocking here in his two tours to date.
 
sensible-indian-fan said:
Leggies always have more potential. So Yasir can turn into something special.

As of now, he is new.

As a package, I would go with Ashwin for sure.

India's most valuable test player.

He has like 4 Man of the series in 6 series in Asia.

Bangladesh test didn't have MOS. The others where he didn't win were England (where he got owned in 2012) and WI (SRT farewell) where him and Rohit were close contenders which Rohit won (fairly).

Among Indian test players, hje has equalled Kumble, Dravid, Kapil Dev and Bhajji in the amount of MOS he got and is just behind Sehwag and SRT. All while playing 1/5th - 1/10th of the tests they played.

View attachment 59785

He is dwarfing all other Indian test players when it comes to impact in a series (not talking about overall quality).
Click to expand...

That's amazing. On par with kumble and Dev at this stage of his career
 
Mamoon said:
Ashwin because he can bat very well, is a very good catcher and has a great cricketing brain.

My favorite Indian cricketer for quite a while, has the potential to be a legend.
Click to expand...

He might as well be the smartest spinner I've seen in international cricket. He's an ordinary bowler but his psychology and presence of mind on the field is amazing
 
I voted Yasir for his speed and prodigious turn. I think he has the potential to be even more deadly if he has better support from seamers and a more consistent batting lineup. Ashwin i believe is already bowling at his best considering that he is an offie .
 
Yasir Shah killing teams off in their second innings any day
 
Yasir still has to play in away-conditions against stronger opponents, so he has a lot to prove. Having said that, he's certainly getting better after every game, so the progress is visible to see.

Because of experience and batting skills, Ashwin may've slight edge. However, if Yasir continues to learn, then certainly he'll be better option to have.

I'm sorry but I don't buy this logic 'ABC possesses smart cricketing brain' therefore, he becomes batter cricket. By this logic, Hafeez could be better then Amla. Yes, sure having good cricketing brain helps but doesn't overcome your limitations.
 
Let him tour away from Home and play more tests ... we are still hypothesizing what Yasir the leg spinner can do!
 
Idk how some posters are suggesting that Ashwin trumps Yasir only because he's a better bat. Bowling wise alone, these are their stats in SC (Since Yasir is yet to play outside SC)

Yasir

61 Wickets @ 24

12 @ 17 vs Australia
10 @ 34 vs Bangladesh (away)
15 @ 34 vs New Zealand
24 @ 19 vs SL (away)

Ashwin

121 wickets @ 23

29 @ 20 vs Australia
5 @ 19 vs Bangladesh (away)
14 @ 52 vs England
18 @ 13 vs New Zealand
21 @ 18 vs Sri Lanka (away)
34 @ 22 vs West Indies


Bowling wise as well, Ashwin is clearly ahead. Yasir has had an impressive start no doubt but he's been inconsistent. So lets not make it seem like they're on same level. Yasir can change the equation completely though if he performs in their upcoming away season.
 
I prefer a better spinner to a leg spinner.

Ashwin has been better so far so him.
 
Its a difficult choice.

Ashwin has bowled really well in SL series, statistically better than Yasir, but he has been helped by lot of left-handers in SL batting line (15 LHB wickets among 21). Haven't watched all of the series so I am not sure how much he has troubled Matthews and Chandimal.

Yasir is ever improving bowler. Has added all of turn, drift, pace and variations in his armory since his debut.


Not much separating them atm. I think until we find a decent spin partner for Yasir, Ashwin will out-bowl him in Asia. If Ashwin can trouble AB and Amla in SA series, who are both right handers and quality players of spin, I would pick him. Till then, its Yasir.
 
This is a tough tough one, based on bowling ability alone, and the fact that leggies always create more chances than offies, I'd go for Yasir (although Ashwin has been very good in the SC too). But Ashwin can bat pretty decently and as an overall package, he might tun out to be more useful than Yasir.
 
I don't take these "PACKAGES" in Test cricket seriously, unless they're some really extra-ordinary allrounders. From the current era, Shakib is good.

Ashwin is not that bad either in SC.

As for bowling, Ashwin is great in SC, so is Yasir, but I have more faith in Yasir doing good overseas. Will take Yasir because he'll win me more matches.
 
Of course, bowling is more important.

Yasir vs Ashwin sample set is so low that people are trying to take whatever they can find as of now.

Ashwin is as solid as it gets as a bowler these days. I knew he turned into something special after WC 2015.

Which is why I predicted a month back (before we toured SL) that he was probably Asia's best allround bowler.

Amla, ABDV vs Ashwin will be a test. Plus will get to play with the SG ball insteadf of the kookabura (which used to be Ashwin's weakness but he improved).

In the past, Ashwin struggled against righties who knew how to play spin. But these days his drift and dip troubles right handed batsmen too. Mathews though looked solid against Ashwin barring here and there. Chandimal was more streaky. But there wasn't enough battle amongst them.

Interesting times ahead for both these bowlers.
 
sensible-indian-fan said:
Of course, bowling is more important.

Yasir vs Ashwin sample set is so low that people are trying to take whatever they can find as of now.

Ashwin is as solid as it gets as a bowler these days. I knew he turned into something special after WC 2015.

Which is why I predicted a month back (before we toured SL) that he was probably Asia's best allround bowler.

Amla, ABDV vs Ashwin will be a test. Plus will get to play with the SG ball insteadf of the kookabura (which used to be Ashwin's weakness but he improved).

In the past, Ashwin struggled against righties who knew how to play spin. But these days his drift and dip troubles right handed batsmen too. Mathews though looked solid against Ashwin barring here and there. Chandimal was more streaky. But there wasn't enough battle amongst them.

Interesting times ahead for both these bowlers.
Click to expand...

Do not think Ashwin will trouble Amla, ABDV much. He is not that effective against right handers like he is with lefties. He is the best spinner I have seen against left handed batsman. ATG's like Sanga was clueless. I would have loved see Ashwin bowling against Brian Lara.
 
Indian_Supporter said:
Do not think Ashwin will trouble Amla, ABDV much. He is not that effective against right handers like he is with lefties. He is the best spinner I have seen against left handed batsman. ATG's like Sanga was clueless. I would have loved see Ashwin bowling against Brian Lara.
Click to expand...

Maybe.

But that's the old Ashwin who didn't get that dip.

Ashwin vs Mathews - Quite a few times Mathews would play with a straight bat but the ball would get the edge around with all oohs and aahs. Even in the final innings, he got Mathews to edge one but unluckily it was just a bit too fine for the leg spin. Its these kind of stuff that he didn't used to do in the old days.

Ashwin's weakness is right handed attacking batsmen but in the old days he used to depend on spin to get those righties but now he fools them in flight and dip and gets them to edge around.

See the 3 out of 5 wickets (right handers) he took against Bangladesh batsmen on a slow spin track. Then even in WC, the ball was constantly taking the inside edge (of righties) and going to silly point (not sure what that position is called) where there was no fielder (obviously).

So it isn't going to be as one sided as you think.

AB - Amla may destroy Ashwin but I won't be shocked if Ashwin even wins the battle (SG ball and good turner if WE get that - Nagpur may be a flat track and Mohali may not spin so not sure about the pitches).
 
Last edited:
sensible-indian-fan said:
Maybe.

But that's the old Ashwin who didn't get that dip.

Ashwin vs Mathews - Quite a few times Mathews would play with a straight bat but the ball would get the edge around with all oohs and aahs. Even in the final innings, he got Mathews to edge one but unluckily it was just a bit too fine for the leg spin. Its these kind of stuff that he didn't used to do in the old days.

Ashwin's weakness is right handed attacking batsmen but in the old days he used to depend on spin to get those righties but now he fools them in flight and dip and gets them to edge around.

See the 3 out of 5 wickets (right handers) he took against Bangladesh batsmen on a slow spin track. Then even in WC, the ball was constantly taking the inside edge (of righties) and going to silly point (not sure what that position is called) where there was no fielder (obviously).

So it isn't going to be as one sided as you think.

AB - Amla may destroy Ashwin but I won't be shocked if Ashwin even wins the battle (SG ball and good turner if WE get that - Nagpur may be a flat track and Mohali may not spin so not sure about the pitches).
Click to expand...

Hope so man. If Ashwin start troubling righties regularly, great news for us :)
 
ashwin is pretty shocking anywhere away from india, although he did have a decent tour against a crappy lankan side.

yasir hasn't played at all outside asia so far afaik but he won't surely be any worse than ashwin.
 
This is not even a contest. I mean Yasir is world number two and Ashwin is a off break only succeed on Indian tracks. I would take leg spinner over an off break any day in tests.

True comparison should have been Ashwin or Shoaib Malike or Saeed Ajmal (Of Old).
 
Rudi hater said:
This is not even a contest. I mean Yasir is world number two and Ashwin is a off break only succeed on Indian tracks. I would take leg spinner over an off break any day in tests.

True comparison should have been Ashwin or Shoaib Malike or Saeed Ajmal (Of Old).
Click to expand...

Yasir hasn't even played on non-friendly spin tracks, how can you say he is better?
 
Most poster forgot to mention Ashwin most certainly has a dodgy action. You can see it, its not 100% clean.
 
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