Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has cast a spotlight on a perceived technical weakness in England captain Ben Stokes' game against spin bowling. His comments come in the wake of Stokes' crucial dismissal to Australian spinner Nathan Lyon during the third Ashes Test in Adelaide, a moment that significantly dented England's hopes.
The Adelaide Dismissal That Sparked The Debate
The incident occurred during England's daunting chase of 435 runs in the second innings. Stokes was clean bowled by Lyon, and England eventually lost the match by 82 runs. This defeat handed Australia the coveted Ashes urn and marked England's fourth consecutive series loss to their oldest rivals. With England losing three Tests within just 11 days, scrutiny intensified on the entire team. However, Ashwin suggested the captain himself needs to examine his personal technique closely.
Speaking in-depth on his popular YouTube channel, Ashwin drew from his own extensive experience of bowling to Stokes in Test cricket, having dismissed the powerful all-rounder 13 times.
Ashwin's Technical Analysis: The Core Flaw
"Ben Stokes has been getting out to off-spinners for as long as I have bowled and watched," Ashwin stated. He praised Stokes as a fabulous player with the right attitude but was clear about the technical discrepancy. "You cannot play spin the same way you play fast bowling," he emphasised.
Ashwin explained the fundamental difference. Against pace, batters can rely on the bounce and make adjustments for lateral movement. Against spin, the key is to get to the pitch of the ball. "The theory of playing spin is to get to the pitch of the ball. If you do not do that, you are always vulnerable," he said. He stressed the importance of watching the ball out of the hand, a basic principle he believes is being neglected.
The Sweep Shot: A Symptom of a Defensive Problem
Ashwin also pointed to a broader trend he observes among non-Asian batters. He cited players like Stokes, Ben Duckett, and Aiden Markram, who heavily depend on the sweep and reverse sweep against spin. According to Ashwin, this reliance stems from an underlying issue.
"I am seeing many western players... sweeping or reverse sweeping because their defensive technique against spin is not right," he analysed. "The moment you commit to the sweep, you are picking the line early and trying to defend it, instead of reading what the ball is doing and getting to it."
He argued that the core principle of playing spin is lost when batters retreat onto the back foot looking to score, rather than proactively meeting the ball. Ashwin expressed concern that this significant technical gap is not being adequately addressed at the highest levels of the game.
Stokes' dismissal in Adelaide proved to be a pivotal moment in England's failed chase and has now become a focal point in wider discussions about England's, and indeed many modern batters', approach to facing spin bowling in Test cricket. Ashwin's critique goes beyond one player, highlighting a potential systemic technical challenge in contemporary batting.
