Has anyone else noticed how much opposition off-spinners struggle in Australia? I certainly have, which is why seeing Graeme Swann not bowling well over here isn’t much of a surprise.
Cricket has seen some of the best off spinners ever in the last 20 years.
We’ve had Muttiah Muralitharan, Harbhajan Singh, Ravichandran Ashwin, Saeed Ajmal and Swann and they have all totally under performed here in Oz.
Lets have a look at the overall stats of the five best off spinner of the last 20 years:
Muralitharan
Wickets: 800, average: 22.72
Harbhajan
Wickets: 413, average: 32.37
Swann
Wickets: 254, average: 29.81
Ajmal
Wickets: 159, average: 26.54
Ashwin
Wickets: 104, average: 27.47
Now lets see their stats in Australia:
Muralitharan
Wickets: 12, average: 75.41
Harbhajan
Wickets: Nine, average: 73.22
Swann
Wickets: 21, average: 51.76
Ajmal
Wickets: two, average: 111.50
Ashwin
Wickets: nine, average: 62.77
As you can see, it’s not a happy hunting ground for offies in Australia.
This to me is clearly a trend not just coincidence. If the best off-spinners of all time can’t do it, what hope do average one’s have?
I checked the stats for leg spinners and slow left armers and they also had worse averages in Australia compared to their career average, but not quite as bad as the off spinners.
Spinners touring here obviously aren’t comfortable with the conditions.
The ball doesn’t spin as much as most other countries but there is extra bounce, which they clearly are not utilising.
Based on these stats I wouldn’t ever pick an off spinner if I were the touring side as they just don’t have an impact.
You could argue for a selection at the SCG but that’s about it.
Any team touring here will surely have to consider this as they are behind the eight ball without a ball being bowled when playing the off-spinner.
India tour here next year and will probably pick Ashwin and they will most certainly lose the series here again.
Haydn
Guest
Leg spinners perform better in oz because they turn the ball more. Wrist spin creates more revs. Our wicket are too hard for off spinners to get a grip. They need slow wickets meaning dusty or wet.
Armchair Expert
Guest
Such's test record in Australia 11w@29, vs Australia 27@32, overall 37@33 , similar average to Lyon, no tests on the sub continent, most against the great Australian side, maybe he was under rated.
ES
Guest
Very few right handed batsmen get bowled through the gate in Australia. Lyon bowls with a lot more overspin and looks to beat players with drift and bounce, rather than 'traditional' off-spinner wickets.
Tony Loedi
Roar Guru
Yeah, I reckon he was closer to be being the King of Spain than the King of Spin
Tony Loedi
Roar Guru
Yeah left armers seem to do better over here although Panesar has struggled
Tony Loedi
Roar Guru
It sure seems thats way
Tony Loedi
Roar Guru
Mushtaq did have one decent series, but even his stats were worse in Oz than normal, Same goes with Such his nu,bees were also worse.
Sharjeel Askari
Guest
Australia is off spinner's graveyard
Luke Smyke
Roar Pro
A real subtle omission of Peter Such and Saqlain Mushtaq here... Saqlain had the invincible Australian team at 6s and 7s both times he came here... here is a nice reminder (Not too mention some of the quality cricketers that were around him here.) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3bYJBy_nfI
ad
Guest
In what planet are Bangladesh and Zimbabwe on the same level as Pakistan?
DubbleBubble
Guest
Yes, but he was the King of Spain.
Tony Loedi
Roar Guru
What would that message be? Do you mean the Aussies sacrificed a test match win to deliver some sort of message to Lyon?
sittingbison
Guest
maybe it was to deliver a message?
bsriharsha
Guest
That was mainly due to the doosra being used for the first time around.
bsriharsha
Guest
India haven't played Tests against Bangladesh/Zimbabwe and Pakistan for quite a while. Ever tried thinking whether what you type makes sense and not just type for the sake of typing.
Tony Loedi
Roar Guru
Don't really agree Frankie - in fact leg spinners are probably generally more expensive than the offies
Frankie Hughes
Guest
Leg spinners can get wickets with bad deliveries. Off break bowlers are easier to dominate/destroy.
Armchair Expert
Guest
Herath: career 200w@29.52, in Aust 12@33.91
Armchair Expert
Guest
Don't forget English off spinner Peter Such's 11 wickets @29.36 in 2 tests in Australia.
Armchair Expert
Guest
Correct Tony, and Lyon's shield bowling average of 47.9 also supports the Australian batsmen's familiarity with the conditions when playing him.