Ashwin vs Kumble

[BazBall21]

Kumble was always an understudy to at least 2 (some times 4) other contemporary spinners. Ashwin on the other hand has been near undisputed best spin bowler in the world for quite a while now. That plays on my mind when comparing the two.

Nah. Not Kumble’s fault Warne and Murali bowled at the same time as him. They would overshadow Ashwin too.

 

[Jayro]

Although I voted for Ashwin but remembering the big scores that became a rituality in most of the decks in subcontinent those days i suspect it's much to close between these two, to think of it there were players like Andy Flower those were playing with an average of perhaps 200 in one of those series now India mostly dismiss a decent team in under 150 at home many of the times, its very close and really too difficult to suss out.

 

[Blenkinsop]

Kumble all day for me.

 

[Arachnodouche]

Ashwin has bullied lesser-quality SL and WI sides for the entirety of his career. Also never played Pak. When you figure he's not first-choice spinner abroad - for balance-related reasons, sure, but primarily because he simply isn't a big enough threat outside the SC - Kumble has to have the edge. Don't think Ashwin's overtaking his wicket tally either.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Ashwin has bullied lesser-quality SL and WI sides for the entirety of his career. Also never played Pak. When you figure he's not first-choice spinner abroad - for balance-related reasons, sure, but primarily because he simply isn't a big enough threat outside the SC - Kumble has to have the edge. Don't think Ashwin's overtaking his wicket tally either.

Were there times around 2001-2005 period where Kumble was left out for Harbhajan? I think there were

 

[ankitj]

Nah. Not Kumble’s fault Warne and Murali bowled at the same time as him. They would overshadow Ashwin too.

Fair. But he was not undisputed #3 either for most of his career.

 

[Shri]

Fair. But he was not undisputed #3 either for most of his career.

yeah saqlain was way better in the 90s

vettori was briefly better before his back injury

but if a pitch had variable bounce kumble would perhaps play before all spinners including warne and murali in the 90s

 

[subshakerz]

Ashwin has bullied lesser-quality SL and WI sides for the entirety of his career. Also never played Pak. When you figure he's not first-choice spinner abroad - for balance-related reasons, sure, but primarily because he simply isn't a big enough threat outside the SC - Kumble has to have the edge. Don't think Ashwin's overtaking his wicket tally either.

That is my reasoning too. Ashwin's relative toothless outside the subcontinent is too big of a problem to ignore.

 

[BazBall21]

Fair. But he was not undisputed #3 either for most of his career.

Yeah that’s a better point

 

[ankitj]

Ashwin has bullied lesser-quality SL and WI sides for the entirety of his career. Also never played Pak. When you figure he's not first-choice spinner abroad - for balance-related reasons, sure, but primarily because he simply isn't a big enough threat outside the SC - Kumble has to have the edge. Don't think Ashwin's overtaking his wicket tally either.

That is my reasoning too. Ashwin's relative toothless outside the subcontinent is too big of a problem to ignore.

Kumble wouldn't have played outside subcontinent either if someone like Jadeja was around.

 

[subshakerz]

Kumble wouldn't have played outside subcontinent either if someone like Jadeja was around.

Maybe pre-2000, but post-2000 Kumble was an important part of tours to England and Australia. His record in SA is also quite rewpectable for an overseas spinner.

 

[srbhkshk]

Maybe pre-2000, but post-2000 Kumble was an important part of tours to England and Australia. His record in SA is also quite rewpectable for an overseas spinner.

So? Ashwin also has had a respectable record in Australia and England for the past few years. He just sits out because Jadeja exists.

 

[srbhkshk]

I don't really believe stuff about Kumble being a better bowler than Ashwin, he was an ironman though and could actually bowl marathon spells without breaking down for the next match - that's the only point in his favor over Ashwin imo

 

[CricAddict]

All this discussion really means that there is not much to separate Ashwin and Kumble at this point.

 

[ImpatientLime]

what does kumble's record look like if he got to play on the ripping home surfaces ashwin plays on?

 

[ImpatientLime]

So? Ashwin also has had a respectable record in Australia and England for the past few years. He just sits out because Jadeja exists.

he sits out for a guy who averages 46 in england isn't the zinger you think it is.

 

[srbhkshk]

he sits out for a guy who averages 46 in england isn't the zinger you think it is.

it wouldn't be if he was sitting out because of Jadeja's bowling.

 

[Shri]

what does kumble's record look like if he got to play on the ripping home surfaces ashwin plays on?

he played on similar tracks in the 90s

kumble with DRS would have been way better than warne tho, easily

 

[Shri]

Maybe pre-2000, but post-2000 Kumble was an important part of tours to England and Australia. His record in SA is also quite rewpectable for an overseas spinner.

kumble won one ANUS (aus, nz, uk, sa) series in his career, in 2007

ashwin has won two in australia so far

 

[BazBall21]

he played on similar tracks in the 90s

kumble with DRS would have been way better than warne tho, easily

Yeah subcontinent changed in the 2000s more than SENA did