World Cup 2015: Spinners

Source: Times of India

PERTH: Former Australian spinner Brad Hogg is highly impressed the way the two Indian spinners, R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, have bowled so far and said, they have given the bowling attack a decisive edge, which has made India one of the favorites in the World Cup.

“I think India have the best spin attack among all the teams in the World Cup. Ashwin and Jadeja have been effective on pitches that have traditionally been pace-friendly. In no other team have I seen spinners bowl so effectively in tandem. The way Ashwin has come out of the slump has been most impressive. He has varied his pace, used the flight and because of his high-arm action has got the most of the bounce from the pitches here. He has trouble all the batsmen, Pakistani and South African. He was virtually unplayable for the hapless UAE batsmen. I believe he will be such a crucial factor when India take on the West Indies on Friday,” Hogg said about the off-spinner.

Hogg also had a word of praise for MS Dhoni for keeping faith in his spinners. “It has also been quite courageous of MS (Dhoni) to use two frontline spinners when the temptation would have been to rely of four pace bowlers and a lone spinner. But he has stuck to his conviction and played both (Ashwin and Jadeja). I agree with him in the regard that a team should play to its strength. And that has helped the team to improve their overall performance in the World Cup. I rate India as one of the favourites,” Hogg said with a toothie smile.

He said that New Zealand have also benefitted from the return of left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori into the team. “What an edge he has given to the New Zealand team. I feel the teams that have good spinners, have been performing consistently. India have Ashwin and Jadeja, Kiwis have Vettori and South Africa have Imran Tahir. They all are leaving an impression on the World Cup, despite the batsmen having virtually taken over the show,” Hogg said.