Ravichandran Ashwin vs Anil Kumble: Comparing the Test records of India's spin legends
Team India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin surprised everyone by announcing his retirement from international cricket on Wednesday, December 18. Attending the press conference with skipper Rohit Sharma following the conclusion of the third Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test at The Gabba in Brisbane, the 38-year-old confirmed his retirement from international cricket.
Ashwin did not feature in the first Test of the series against Australia in Perth, but was part of the playing XI for the pink-ball Test in Adelaide. He registered figures of 1-53 from 18 overs in the first innings in what would turn out to be his last international match for India. The veteran bowler was replaced by Ravindra Jadeja for the third Test at The Gabba.
While the Tamil Nadu cricketer featured in 116 ODIs and 65 T20Is, it is in the Test format that he proved to be one of India's greatest match-winners. In terms of most wickets taken for India in Tests (and international cricket overall), he is next only to the legendary former leg-spinner Anil Kumble. In the wake of Ashwin's retirement, here's a detailed comparison of his Test stats with that of Kumble.
Ashwin vs Kumble: Overall Test stats
Ashwin ended his Test career with 106 matches in which he claimed 537 wickets at an average of 24. The 38-year-old picked up 37 five-fers and 25 four-fers in a decorated career. The Tamil Nadu cricketer also took 10 wickets in a Test match on as many as eight occasions.
Looking at Kumble's numbers, he played 132 Test matches and picked up 619 wickets at an average of 29.65. The former Karnataka cricketer registered 35 five-fers and 31 four-fers. Like Ashwin, he also picked up 10 wickets in a Test match on eight occasions.
With the bat, Ashwin scored 3,503 runs in 151 innings at an average of 25.75. The right-hander notched up six hundreds and 14 fifties with the willow. Looking at Kumble's batting stats, he scored 2,506 runs at an average of 17.77. The 54-year-old hit one century and five-half centuries in his Test career.
Home vs Away record
Ashwin had an exceptional Test record at home. In 65 matches, he claimed 383 wickets at an average of 21.57, with 29 five-fers and six ten-wicket match hauls. Away from home, he played 40 Tests and claimed 150 scalps at an average of 30.55, with eight five-fers and two 10-wicket match hauls. Ashwin also played one Test at a neutral venue in which he claimed four wickets, averaging 11.25.
As for Kumble, he also possessed a superb Test record at home. In 63 matches, he claimed exactly 350 wickets at an average of 24.88, with 25 five-fers and seven 10-wicket match hauls. Away from home, Kumble was part of 69 Tests in which he claimed 269 wickets at an average of 35.85, with 10 five-fers and one 10-wicket match haul. Kumble did not play any Test at a neutral venue.
Performance in winning causes
Ashwin was part of 61 Test matches that India won. He claimed 374 wickets at an excellent average of 18.99, which included 31 five-fers and seven 10 wicket-match hauls. In contrast, the off-spinner claimed 98 wickets in 28 Tests at an average of 34.09 in losing causes. He picked up 65 wickets at an average of 37.61 in 17 Tests that ended in a draw.
Ravichandran Ashwin and Anil Kumble's Test stats
Kumble was part of 43 Tests that India won. He picked up 288 wickets at an average of 18.75, with 20 five-fers and five 10-wicket match hauls. In losing causes, he claimed 124 scalps in 33 matches at an average of 41.35, five five-fers and zero ten-wicket match hauls. Kumble was part of 56 drawn Tests, claiming 207 scalps at an average of 37.81, with 10 five-fers and three 10-wicket match hauls.
Stats in SENA countries
Below is a statistical comparison of Ashwin and Kumble's Test performance in South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia.
Ashwin played seven Tests in South Africa and claimed 11 wickets at an average of 49.63. In England, he picked up 18 wickets in seven Tests, averaging 28.11. The 38-year-old played only one Test in New Zealand in which he claimed three scalps at an average of 33. In Australia, Ashwin played 11 Tests and claimed 40 wickets at an average of 42.42.
Kumble played 12 Tests in South Africa and picked up 45 wickets at an average of 32.02. In England, he claimed 36 wickets in 10 Tests, averaging 41.41. The former leg-spinner also featured in three Tests in New Zealand and claimed 11 wickets at an average of 40.27. In Australia, the former India skipper played 10 Tests and took 49 wickets at an average of 37.73, with four five-fers and one 10-wicket haul.