Rohit's streak ends, Muralitharan prefers Ashwin to Lyon and more - Cricket News Today, 10th February 2019

Muralitharan labels Ashwin as best off-spinner in the world

Muralitharan has placed Ashwin ahead of Lyon among contemporary off-spinners

Once a straightforward question, there's plenty of debate surrounding the title of best off-spinner in the current game. With injuries and indifferent away form slowing his surge, Ravichandran Ashwin now finds himself in an intriguing battle with Nathan Lyon.

Placing the Indian veteran ahead of the Australian stalwart, legendary off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan has reiterated Ashwin as the best off-spinner in the world.

In an interview with TOI, Muralitharan insisted, "Kuldeep (Yadav) has been bowling really well. But it's not for me to comment whether he should be India's number one spinner or Ashwin. When it comes to off-spinners in the world, I think Ashwin is still the best."

The iconic Sri Lankan cricketer elaborated, "You tell me why not? Who do you think is better than him, Nathan Lyon? Well, I will go by the number of wickets that R Ashwin has taken. Yes, people may argue Lyon is taking wickets in Australia but he is supposed to take wickets there. Ashwin will take wickets where he plays, even I took more than 500 (of my 800) in the subcontinent."