Former Pakistan spinner and current England spin bowling coach Mushtaq Ahmed predicted a tough competition between the duo in the series dubbed a battle for spin supremacy.
Coach Mohsin Khan voted Ajmal the best off-spinner in the business today.
“Ajmal is in good form and currently the best,” Mohsin told The Express Tribune. “I believe Ajmal is far better than Swann. However, Swann holds the advantage given England’s fielding and I hope Ajmal gets the same support. Our batsmen lack patience so that may work in Swann’s favour too.”
‘Doosra’ gives Ajmal the edge: Qasim
Meanwhile, former left-arm spinner Iqbal Qasim termed both spinners equal but picked Ajmal to have the edge next month.
“Both bowlers are assets for their team,” he said. “They are in form, delivering regularly but Ajmal will have the edge because of the ‘doosra’ which he delivers more effectively than Swann.”
Meanwhile, former off-spinner Tauseef Ahmed felt that Ajmal had more variation than Swann that will give the Pakistani edge over the latter.
“He has shown improvement after every series and I expect him to finish better than Swann. For Pakistan, Ajmal is a key player and the team will rely on him heavily.”
Published in The Express Tribune, December 30th, 2011.
COMMENTS (21)
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Danish Kaneria being a leg spinner will be more effective against England instead Ajmal
Both spinners are the key players of both teams. Swann is the World-Class bowler. If he does bowling the batsman don't try to HIT him and mostly beat all balls. Saeed Ajmal is the famous spinner and called Hero of Pakistan spin bowling. His doosra is awesome. No one stands in front of him, not swann. Ajmal will be the best bowler in next series of Pakistan.
swann is a genuine off spinner.his flighted offspinning delivery is on of a kind cz it beats the batsmen in flight.saeed ajmal on the other hand has the doosra which mostly proves lethal 4 the lower order batsmen.it will b a tough challenge 4 him 2 beat the likes pf cook,bell,peterson,strauss etc.only time will tell
Why not leave this debate for the series? The outcome of the series will decide best among these two. Keeping injuries in mind, rating one higher over another is ridiculous. There is no guarantee that any one of these will get full series.
@Andrew: he took most wickets this year. graeme swann wasnt even in the list!!!!
I rate Saeed Ajmal evewn better than Saqlain Mushtaq.
Ajmal has more variety and guile but Swann has loads of confidence, more experience and a better fielding side. Swann's wicketkeeper and close-in fielders won't be dropping as many catches as Akmal and co. In fact Akmal alone could prove to tbe the difference.
In tough conditions, AbdurRahman and M.Hafeez are much more credible warriors.
Swan, on the other hand, is equipped with a never-give-in approach. He never loses his confidence, his heart and his guile even in the darkest conditions a bowler can be in.
The main difference between these two is that Ajmal no variety at all and he is a real timid player. He fails the moment a batsman gets in an aggressive mood. There are dozens of matches which justify what I just said.
If anyone is skeptical of my words, just wait and see in future matches, if you've forgotten his encounter with Mike Hussy.
Ajmal worst spinner ever
I think Swann has a better temperament for tests, Ajmal has a good 'doosra'. On UAE's dead pitches both of them will struggle...
I think it comes down to the battle of spin attack! .... and there Pakistan is no doubt superior with abdur rehman and m hafeez also weighing in!
I rate Swann higher than Ajmal because he is a genuine off-spinner without hanky-panky of doosra or teesra or whatever. Everyone knows to bowl a doosra you have to bend your arm. I dont like bowlers who bend there arms. 15 degrees or not it does not matter. This doosra delivery has taken beauty of the game away. Best of the lot was Saqlain who was never suspected of bending his arm.
Bowlers with bent in their bowling action should be discouraged at all levels. It has nothing to do with patriotism.
ajmal is more better...
@ProudPakistani: What will happen in teesra :P ball will split up in two and goes both way :D
Ajmal also said that new variation will introduce in the UAE series . So see how will b the new one.
In my opinion Ajmal is better. Reasons: i) He performance has been on the rise since he wore the green shirt. ii) He has performed against all the teams that we've played. iii)And to take the most wickets in tests with a fielding side like ours... It really is an achievement:P
INSHALLAH he'll out perform Swann.
Ajmal will crush English batting...Remember he is going to introduce another delivery in series against England i;e Teesra..
if u can put more pressure on ajmal to ruin his form... pls continue :/ ....
No doubt that both are highly talented spinners, but Saeed Ajmal in my opinion is better when it comes to variety. It doesn't mean that Graeme Swann isn't good, he in my opinion is best non asian spinner after Shane Warne.