India v/s Sri Lanka: R Ashwin can learn from Anil Kumble on bowling better overseas

There was a period in 2013-14 when Ravichandran Ashwin averaged 379 with the ball across formats. Managing the solitary wicket across six matches on the tours to South Africa and New Zealand, the off-spinner faced copious criticism for his inability to strike consistency overseas. While his one-day spot was never threatened, Ravindra Jadeja shot ahead of him in the white flannels and usurped his Test berth. It was only during the fifth Test at The Oval last year that Ashwin regained the spot of the No. 1 spinner, after sharing space with Jadeja in the previous game at Manchester. Ashwin’s progress since then has been heartening and bodes well for the future. 

In seven Tests (which includes the ongoing bout against Sri Lanka at Galle) since his comeback at Manchester in 2014, Ashwin has taken 26 wickets at an average of 31.76 with two fifers. One needs to break those figures down further to get a clearer picture. For starters, the two fifers came in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. The remaining 15 wickets were collected across five Tests in England and Australia. While those returns may not be very impressive, his intent in those games caught the eye and fuelled hopes of him developing into India’s frontline spinner in all conditions. 

In England and Australia, Ashwin wasn’t afraid to toss the ball and invite the batsmen to take him on. He maintained an attacking approach, which reflected confidence and a tougher mindset. As one of the commentators pointed out during the ongoing Test against Sri Lanka, Ashwin has kept it simple and bowled genuine off-spin. His action too seems a lot easier, without the usual “bartender’s mix” in the run-up. Those encouraging signs in England and Australia have developed into results in more familiar conditions in Asia in the recent Tests. 

Coming to the Galle Test, there was bounce for the pace-bowlers and turn for the spinners. Ashwin managed to use the conditions well and spun a web around the Sri Lankans. He kept hitting the right channels to the left-handers, a little outside the off-stump. The dismissal of Kumar Sangakkara was soft but showed how Ashwin had foxed the batsman in length and flight. Lahiru Thirimanne prodded at one forward and was taken at first-slip. Maintaining that approach, Ashwin was able to keep the pressure on the Sri Lankans and help India into a good position. It won him praise from Anil Kumble, who tweeted in the evening, “Well bowled @ashwinravi99 wonderful flight, line and length. Put India in a commanding position!! #INDvSL.” Ashwin would do well to take a leaf out of Kumble’s book. 

Learning from Anil Kumble
Kumble’s wasn’t very successful overseas in the first 13 years of his international career. Until the tour to Australia in 2003, Kumble accounted for 123 wickets in 37 away Tests at an average of 39.90. The rise of Harbhajan Singh also kept Kumble out of a few overseas Tests until a brilliant performance from the leggie on the tour to Australia in 2003 helped him snatch the main spinner’s spot. What worked for Kumble then was that he developed into a better bowler in alien conditions. In 32 away Tests since the 2003 tour to Australia, Kumble took 146 wickets at an average of 32.44 with six fifers and a 10-wicket match-haul. What those figures may not tell you is that he bowled India to numerous overseas victories and became invaluable to their cause around the world. 

Ashwin has Kumble’s blueprint of transformation before him. While he has improved considerably in recent Tests, Ashwin can add more to his repertoire to become a better bowler away. At the time of writing, he has taken 35 wickets in 11 away Tests at an average of 42.82. He needs to be backed and given time to develop into that Kumble-like strike bowler in Test cricket. Kumble echoed those sentiments in a recent chat with NDTV, "I think he's [Ashwin] a fantastic bowler. What he has achieved is phenomenal and I think the critics haven't been fair to him. It's hard to be a spinner and perform abroad; you need to be a little tolerant."

Ashwin may not take a bagful of wickets in England, Australia or South Africa as he does at home, but can certainly be an asset for India with better levels of consistency. A long journey commences with a single step and Ashwin has certainly taken a few in recent times.   

(Nishad Pai Vaidya is a Mumbai-based cricket journalist and anchor. He is one of the youngest to cover the three major tournaments — ICC World Cup, World T20 and the under-19 World Cup. He can be followed on Twitter at @nishad_45)