“You cannot play spin in the same way you play fast bowling” - Ravi Ashwin analyses Ben Stokes’ issue against spinners

Former India spinner and analyst Ravi Ashwin has opened up on Ben Stokes’ technique against spinners, following his dismissal in the third Test against Australia at the Adelaide Oval in Adelaide. 

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Notably, Stokes was bowled by the veteran Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon in the second innings as England failed to chase an imposing target of 435 and got all out for 352 runs, losing the game by 82 runs as Australia retained the Ashes with a 3-0 series win.

Following England’s 82-run defeat, Ashwin, while speaking on his YouTube channel, suggested that Ben Stokes needs to take a hard look at his own game, analysing the England skipper’s technique against spinners, drawing from his own experience of bowling to him.

Notably, Ashwin dismissed Stokes for the most times in his Test career, having dismissed the England captain 13 times in his career. Speaking on Stokes, Ashwin stated that he can’t play spin bowling like the fast bowling and he needs to watch the ball out of hand instead and get to the pitch of the ball.

“Ben Stokes has been getting out to off-spinners for as long as I’ve been bowling and watching him. Is this question being asked? He is a fabulous player with the right attitude, but you cannot play spin in the same way you play fast bowling. You have to watch the ball out of the hand. The theory of playing spin is to get to the pitch of the ball. If you don’t do that, you’re always vulnerable,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

Furthermore, Ashwin also highlighted how many western batters, including Ben Stokes, rely heavily on the sweep and reverse sweep against spinners as their defensive technique isn’t right, which could result in losing their wicket quite early.

“I’m seeing many western players like Ben Stokes, Ben Duckett and Aiden Markram sweeping or reverse-sweeping because their defensive technique against spin isn’t right. The moment you commit to the sweep, you’re picking the line early and trying to defend it, instead of reading what the ball is doing and getting to it,” he added.

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