Test cricket is the most difficult and tiresome format ever been drafted into the game. Nothing comes near to providing intense drama and action as Test cricket does. Batsmen need to play out sessions in order to save the game or guard other susceptible batsmen from getting dismissed cheaply. When it comes to bowlers, it is bowling those long spells and remaining patient for the wickets all day. A drop in the intensity or the desired aggression can swing the momentum in favour of the opposition in no time.
While fast bowlers enjoy some rest in between spells, it is the spinners, who act as an ideal foil holding one end up. It is their responsibility to bowl bountiful overs on the trot and if possible pick vital wickets, bringing the side back in the contest. The job may appear pleasing and relaxing from the outside given the lack of run-up and strength required, but it is equally tough to keep bowling at one spot and hope for the ball to spin off the surface. The history of cricket has seen several such spinners, who bowled extended spells and picked plenty of wickets in their illustrious career.
In the below piece, we look at 5 such off-spinners, who are dominating Test cricket in recent times:
1. Ravichandran Ashwin
The tweaker from Tamil Nadu is the frontline spinner in the current Indian Test team. Be it bowling in India on the slow and dry wickets or plying trade overseas, Ashwin has been in the mix and given his experience gets a go-ahead of other chosen spinners.
In the 72 Test matches that he has played, Ashwin has picked 370 wickets at an average of 25.28 and economy rate of 2.84. The spinner has 27 fifers to his name with best bowling figures of 7-59.
The numbers speak for itself and make him indispensable as far as the Test arena is concerned. Throughout the years, we have seen the tall spinner bowling with different actions, using numerous variations and bowling angles to get the better of the batsmen. An Inspite of possessing the carom ball, knuckle ball and other weapons in his bowling arsenal, the traditional off-spin is what gets him more number of wickets and deceives the batsmen off the pitch.
2. Nathan Lyon
Starting his career as a member of the ground-staff at Adelaide Oval, Lyon has quickly climbed up the ladder and has become a major necessity when it comes to Test cricket.
In the 97 Test matches that he has featured in, Lyon has scalped 391 wickets at an average of 31.68 and economy rate of 3.01. The spinner has picked 18 fifers with best bowling figures of 8-50 coming against India at Bengaluru in 2017.
Lyon imparts plenty of revolutions on the ball and gets remarkable drift off the surface. Batsmen who lack sound technique are bound to lose their wicket to the wily off-spinner, who might trap them in front of wickets on a majority of occasions.
3. Dominic Bess
This Somerset youngster has achieved massive strides in his short international career with England. Playing ahead of experienced off-spinner Moeen Ali, Bess has spun his magic in the home series against Pakistan and away series against South Africa.
In a small sample of 10 Tests, Bess has accounted for 19 wickets at an economy rate of 2.75 and an average of 40.58. He has picked just a single fifer with figures of 5-51.
This is just the beginning of his career, who has miles of distance to be covered before he calls it to quit. His consistent lower-order contributions which come handy in low scoring games, provide him with the requisite edge over other spin bowling compatriots.
4. William Somerville
Considered as a late bloomer, Somerville has been in the thick of things for New Zealand pertaining to the red-ball format. Being taller than usual, Somerville imparts both spin and bounce on the ball that he delivers, creating uncertainties in the minds of the batsmen.
In 4 Test matches, the spinner has galloped 15 wickets at an average of 32.47 and economy rate of 2.78. His best bowling figures till date is a convincing 4-75 and the breakthrough series had to be the one against Sri Lanka in their own backyard.
Somerville belongs to the unique breed of off-spinners, who is physically gifted to make the most of his spin-bowling stint. It is quite intimidating to face a bowler, who extracts a steep bounce off the surface along with the obvious turn and leaves the batsmen absolutely clueless going against him.
5. Roston Chase
West Indian players, owing to their supreme physique and in-born aggression are more suited to the shortest format and are in greater demand in the T20 leagues around the world. The aspect, though, has hampered their progress in the Test arena which demands a greater concentration, patience, grit and determination.
However, this tall all-rounder from Barbados has shown some unique traits, uncharacteristic of a normal West Indian and looks confident to bring back the old glory days of Test cricket. Yes, he is Chase, who is chasing some unprecedented success in the multi-day format. In 36 Tests, Chase has got the better of 69 batsmen at an average of 42.74 and economy rate of 3.49. He has also amassed 1869 runs with the best score of 137 and 5 hundreds to his name.
