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Hyderabad: A player’s specialised role in each set up has meant that a team’s composition can influence results significantly, as is the case with batting or bowling. An optimum working ratio of batters to bowlers and all-rounders is crucial. A modern day cricketer is expected to be proficient in practically every aspect of the game if the team is to succeed.
In every playing XI, every pacer and every spinner is an essential component. With that being said, there are some bowlers who have two trades, that of being both a pacer and a spinner. These will be discussed in this article.
Muttiah Muralitharan
One of those who went over from pace to spin on the legendary Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan. Muralitharan once claimed to be a pace bowler although he had been a medium pace bowler at one point. On the advice of his school coach, he converted into spin bowling. This great bowler took 800 Test wickets, 534 ODI wickets, and 13 T20I wickets.
Bowlers who switched from pace to spin
File Photo: Muttiah Muralitharan (IANS)
Muralitharan’s Test career was spectacular, and he is the all-time leading wicket-taker in Test matches. He has taken the most wickets in history at one venue, having 166 wickets at Sri Lanka’s Sinhalese Sports club.
Former Indian Head Coach and leg spinner Kumble was a medium pace bowler by trade, but in his later years made the transition to spin bowling, which enabled him to become the highest ever wicket taker for India in Test matches. In total, he has taken 953 wickets which comprises of 619 Test and 337 ODI wickets.
Bowlers who switched from pace to spin
File Photo: Anil Kumble (IANS)
Indeed, Kumble is one of a mere trio of bowlers in the world to have taken ten wickets in a single innings of a Test match. His came against Pakistan in their home soil back in '99.
Ravichandran Ashwin
Ashwin along with Kumble are the two other Indian spinners who have switched from pace to spin and Ashwin is the most recent retiree from international cricket. He also started off his career as a medium pace opening bowler, but after changing his approach mid career due to feedback from his friends and coach, he transformed into a great off-spinner. Ashwin’s records include 537 wickets in Tests, 156 in ODIs and 72 in T20 internationals.
Bowlers who shifted from pace to spin
File Photo: R Ashwin (IANS)
Yuzvendra Chahal
Chahal began as a fast bowler at junior level but he changed to spin after sometime as per the advice that his father gave him. In his ODI career, he has already taken 121 wickets and he has 96 T20I wickets.
Bowlers who shifted from pace to spin
File Photo: Yuzvendra Chahal (IANS)
Varun Chakravarthy
Chakravarthy made the switch from fast bowling to spin and became popular for his mystery spin in the cricketing circles. The medium pacer from Tamil Nadu suffered a knee injury which forced him to take up slow orthodox. He bagged 33 ODI wickets and has taken 1 T20I wicket.
