In England, R Ashwin & Ravindra Jadeja Need To Get The Drift

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Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja was asked ahead of the first Test against New Zealand in Kanpur in 2016 about the difference in bowling on India's spin-friendly and England and New Zealand's seam-friendly pitches.

He replied, "Wahaan England mein toh spinner ki ball bhi hawaa mein hi swing hoti hai (There in England, even spinner's deliveries swing in the air)." The swing he was talking about is the drift, explains former India left-arm spinner Maninder Singh.

Both Jadeja and off-spinner R Ashwin will be the key to India's fortunes in the five-Test series in England that begins next month. And more than turn, they will look for drift.

"The most important thing for Indian spinners in England will be the drift. There won't be as much turn there as it is in India. It (using drift) will be one way of out-thinking the English batsman. Because of the atmosphere there, the ball does drift and any spinner who can take the advantage of that drift will get wickets consistently," said Maninder, who played 35 Test matches and was part of the 1986 India side that won the Test series in England.

"If you have the ability to drift, you will be able to deceive the batsmen in England," Maninder told IANS. Ashwin, who has picked 14 wickets in six Tests against England in England, is touring the country for Tests for the third time. It could be the last Test series trip for the 34-year-old. He hasn't had great success there and has also missed matches due to fitness issues.

Jadeja has picked 16 wickets in five matches in England over the same two tours - in 2014 and 2018. He too hasn't been threatening in England. This time though they are going there with the benefit of more experience and a psychological advantage of having dismantled England batting (through Ashwin and Axar Patel) at home in February-March this year. Jadeja was injured then but his all-round ability and experience makes him first choice.

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