Australia’s spin legend Shane Warne lauded ace India off-spinner R Ashwin and while speaking on the Ashwin-Nathan Lyon rivalry, prophesized that he wanted both of them to take 1000 Test wickets each.
Warne, who himself had a healthy rivalry with Muttiah Muralitharan during his playing days, stated that there is nothing he would want more than to see both behemoths reach the pinnacle.
"I hope both Ashwin and Lyon do (break Warne and Muralitharan's record), because the more we see quality spin bowlers bowling, it makes for more interesting cricket. I think when you watch a pace bowler bowl real fast and a batter trying to take them on and then you see a really good spinner and that battle between him and a spinner. And you see that battle evolve. If you can see those two things in Test cricket, I think it becomes more entertaining. So if we can have that, then I hope Ashwin takes 1000 Test wickets, Lyon takes 1000 Test wickets. That would be fantastic," Warne told Hindustan Times.
During last year's Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Ashwin grabbed 12 wickets and had the wood over Steve Smith. Warne felt that Ashwin is getting better with age and has been fantastic.
"Ashwin is getting better and better. He has been fantastic. A true test of any cricketer is how they go away from home. Over a long period of time when you go to different countries and see how you perform overseas and then you end up having a record – both home and overseas, it gives you an idea as to how far you've come as a player. I am a big fan of Ashwin, the way he bowls. I think he is always trying to develop and explore different deliveries," he mentioned.
He also opined on the decline of Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal and said that 'Kul-Cha's' return into contention has gotten tougher because Ashwin and Jadeja haven't given selectors reasons to leave them out.
"I'm not sure they have declined. When you have Ashwin and Jadeja, two wonderful bowlers, it's very hard to get into the team. Kuldeep is a wonderful wrist-spinner, so is Chahal. But it's tough to get into the team when you've got Ashwin and Jadeja. So I don't think they've had a downfall or anything like that, or drop in form. I just think the other two are doing really well," explained Warne.
