Ben Stokes vs Ravi Ashwin

[Bahseph]

There's no comparison when it comes to bowling stats between the two. Ashwin singlehandedly wins games in India and any surface taking some spin.

Stokes does benefit from England's depth. The nature of his game means that he will fail now and then but the presence of the other all rounders allows him that freedom.

I'm not a big stats guy but I reckon that's why he has a similar batting average to Ashwin. Ashwin will overwhelming over take him in this debate for me if he starts scoring runs everywhere as Stokes has proven he can.

I don't hold his Windies runs against him because I watched at least two of those tons and they were from tricky situations. I just think he needs more runs against a variety of opposition in different conditions to place him on Stokes level as a batsman. For now, Stokes still squeaks ahead. But I'd be greedy and pick both in my World XI.

 

[ImpatientLime]

Stokes is miles ahead of Ashwin as a batsman. Clear example of career averages flat out lying.

Overall, it's close,but I think Stokes potentially can be a matchwinner in all conditions, while for Ashwin, he will never truly be able to win matches on his own outside the subcontinent. Such is the nature of finger spin. Total beast in the SC though. England probably wouldn't swap Stokes for Ashwin, but theyd love to have Ashwin in their side. Same for India and Stokes.

in fairness, i think ashwins supposed inability to win matches in australia, south africa and england lies more at the feet of his sides pace bowlers.

not easy coming on at 90-0 after 15 overs and getting **** all support all day.

 

[harsh.ag]

Stokes is more all-roundery. This is different from all the all-roundery that is TPC.

 

[OverratedSanity]

in fairness, i think ashiwns supposed inability to win matches in australia, south africa and england lies more at the feet of his sides pace bowlers.

not easy coming on at 90-0 after 15 overs and getting **** all support all day.

Yep, I have no doubt he'd have respectable Lyon-esque figures in Australia/England/SA if he had the Aussie pacers in his team. But he'd still never be able to take a 6-fer or anything unless he gets a real turner.

 

[Zinzan]

you've seen our middle order, right?

I have, I think Stokes fits well as an allrounder... The question was would he make the top 5 or 6 as a pure bat. If you think so, you must be suggesting the health of English Test batting prospects in incredibly weak currently.

 

[OverratedSanity]

I have, I think Stokes fits well as an allrounder... The question was would he make the top 5 or 6 as a pure bat. If you think so, you must be suggesting the health of English Test batting prospects in incredibly weak currently.

It is incredibly weak. I'd take Stokes at 5 over someone like Vince, for example, any day of the week.

 

[Bahseph]

I rate Woakes so highly, I genuinely think he could be the first English Test cricketer since Botham, to finish up averaging over 30 with bat and under 30 with ball. Time will tell.

I'm a big Woakes fan as well. But I see him being more of a Shaun Pollock type all rounder.

 

[ImpatientLime]

I have, I think Stokes fits well as an allrounder... The question was would he make the top 5 or 6 as a pure bat. If you think so, you must be suggesting the health of English Test batting prospects in incredibly weak currently.

we currently have gary ballance at 4 and moeen ali at 5. stokes is at least on a par with these guys.

 

[Daemon]

Vince isn't top 5.

Ballance is the only bat he can replace. Moeen?

 

[GIMH]

The idea that Stokes wouldn't make the side as a batsman is madness.

Maybe he wouldn't have made our side of 2011 as a bat (though I'd say he's a better Test bat than Eoin Morgan...) but that was a long time ago and we've not long had a summer where Hales and Vince played every Test so...

I don't care much for the overall comparison but felt I had to chime in on that specific point

 

[Pratters]

Ben Stokes > Ashwin. However we will have to see where their careers end up. If Stokes doesn't fulfill his promise and plays half the tests Ashwin does, Ashwin would probably be the better cricketer despite Stokes having more allrounder mojo.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Vince isn't top 5.

Ballance is the only bat he can replace. Moeen?

Vince isn't top 5 but he was selected as a specialist middle order batsman. And Stokes is better.

And he's probably better than both Ballance and Moeen as well. Although much of all this talk is about his potential more than anything else.

 

[GIMH]

I'd say only Cook, Root and Jonny B are better.

In terms of absolute ceiling when it comes to playing an innings, he has that Pietersen level IMO, to go to a level few else can.

 

[cnerd123]

Ashwin makes it as a batsman over Ballance, Moeen and Vince too tho tbf.

 

[91Jmay]

No chance Ashwin is a better batsmen than Moeen. Not even close

 

[TheJediBrah]

Stokes is miles ahead of Ashwin as a batsman. Clear example of career averages flat out lying.

Overall, it's close,but I think Stokes potentially can be a matchwinner in all conditions, while for Ashwin, he will never truly be able to win matches on his own outside the subcontinent. Such is the nature of finger spin. Total beast in the SC though. England probably wouldn't swap Stokes for Ashwin, but theyd love to have Ashwin in their side. Same for India and Stokes.

**** off. This thread is not the place for sensible posting.

 

[GIMH]

Not sure he does over Moeen. Not sure he doesn't either, mind.

Still feel like Moeen is a lot of unanswered questions as a Test bat, given his role has gone middle order - lower order - opener - lower order - middle order

 

[weldone]

Ashwin because he is 20% better batsman, 200% better bowler and has a 2000% bigger brain.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Ashwin makes it as a batsman over Ballance, Moeen and Vince too tho tbf.

Ashwin barely even makes it as a batsman over Stuart Broad

 

[Pratters]

Moeen>Ashwin as a batsman.