Who should be our spinner in Aus, as we will only play 1

[rkt.india]

I can't believe so many people here are sold on Ojha based on his exploits against weak teams. Ojha relies primarily on conventional tools such as flight/deception/pace/turn to pick wickets. Very few off-spinners succeed in the long run with just that. Off-spinners have to innovate or they'll perish with time. Part of the reason why Bhajji has been a passenger the last few years (and Panesar is a goner). Good batting lineups learn to adapt to such conventional spinners sooner or later and hence such spinners lose their potency with time. The best off spinner in the world today is Saeed Ajmal (I reckon, better than Swanny!). He's so hard to pick, even Tendulkar struggled against him. Ajmal has a very potent doosra and he bowls that with virtually no change in action. Even Murali became twice the bowler he was only after he added his doosra. Ashwin's carrom ball is unconventional. If he uses it wisely he will keep the batsmen guessing. Only when such doubts are planted in a batsman's mind, he will make mistakes. IMHO, Ojha has to innovate, otherwise he won't be playing two years from now.

Agree completely.:two_thumbs_up:

[rkt.india]

This is a no-brainer. Ashwin for me is the obvious choice. You guys are all excited about Ojha. But i doubt he will be able to replicate his performance against good teams. I still consider Ojha an ordinary spinner - no don't compare him with Bhajji, anyone can better Bhajji in his current form. Need to see him against better teams before am sold. Ashwin, however is a rare breed, he has nerves of steel. He is the kinda cricketer I would back even if he fails several times. He is street smart and will find a way to succeed at every level against all comers. And to his credit, he simply refuses to fail. His carrom ball is a surprise weapon against Australians (who are not comfortable against such variety) In terms of batting, Ashwin trumps everyone else. In Australia this will be a very important asset (esp with a weak #6) for the team. India has produced many tailenders who have been effective (Zaheer, Bhajji, Ishant et al have scored runs), but few had the technique of Ashwin. He looks like a top order bat playing on drives, late cuts and all. You have to go back to Irfan Pathan or an Ajit Agarkar to find as good a lower order batsman as him. After years of destruction, IPL has finally helped unearth a gem. Hope Ashwin values test cricket as much as we do.

Agree. Completely.