Former India off-spinner R. Ashwin says Sri Lanka’s spin stocks have depleted since the retirement of Rangana Herath, leaving the hosts without a spinner capable of posing the same level of threat ahead of the upcoming Test series against India.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin said Sri Lanka would have had a much stronger chance against India if Herath was still leading the spin attack.
“I want to know who the spinners are. If Rangana Herath was still there, I would say Sri Lanka have a great chance,” Ashwin said.
Ashwin identified Prabath Jayasuriya as Sri Lanka’s frontline left-arm spinner but questioned whether his slower pace through the air would trouble India’s batting line-up.
“They have Prabath Jayasuriya, a left-arm spinner who bowls a little slower. If you bowl slow against this Indian batting line-up, it won’t be easy because many of their batters play very well off the back foot,” he said.
He also referred to Sri Lanka’s off-spin options, mentioning Ramesh Mendis and Nishan Peiris, while recalling an off-spinner who impressed him during the recent Sri Lanka A series, although he could not remember the player’s name.
Ashwin added that Sri Lanka’s spin combination would be crucial in determining how competitive they are during the two-match Test series against India, which begins on August 15 in Galle. (Newswire)