Top 10 non-subcontinental players of spin bowling over the last 20 years

Not many batsmen from outside the subcontinent have cracked the code of playing slow bowling. They might be adept at playing spin in their own backyard, but, similar to how Asian batsmen struggle in conditions that assist fast bowling, they find it difficult to cope with the turning ball in spin-friendly conditions, which is the true test of a batsman’s ability versus spin.There are, however, a few exceptions, as always.Here are the top 10 players of spin bowling from outside the subcontinent in the last 20 years:  

#10 Graeme Smith

The recently retired Graeme Smith was often derided for his ungainly batting technique, but it was his efficiency in scoring runs at the top of the order for South Africa that ultimately mattered, and he didn’t disappoint on that count. His record in the subcontinent, much like anywhere else in the world, was exemplary, scoring 1,728 runs from 21 Tests at an average of 49.37.

The one aberration in his Test record, however, was the fact that he averaged a relatively moderate 35.91 and didn’t score a single hundred in India, but that was more to do with his shortcomings against Zaheer Khan than any weakness against playing spin.