Back in the day, off-spinners played more of a second-fiddle role in a bowling attack, with a few considering them as wicket-takers.
However, with time, a few prominent off-spinners rose through the ranks, changing the whole perception around them with their tactics.
These masters showcased their art on the 22 yards, delivering deceptive variations and leaving batters awestruck.
Here, we’ll list the 5 best off-spinners of all time in cricket.
Muthiah Muralidaran
Muthiah Muralidaran is unarguably the greatest off-spinner to play in the history of cricket. The legendary Sri Lankan offie could spin the ball on any surface and bowl longer spells with dedication.
He was an invincible force while bowling on the familiar tracks of Sri Lanka, where he garnered the maximum support from the conditions. Even in overseas conditions, Muralidaran was a go-to man, ready to bring breakthroughs.
Despite controversies around his bowling action, Muralidaran carved himself a place with his off-spin magic. He had an illustrious 19-year career, taking 800 wickets in Tests, 534 in ODIs, and 13 in T20Is.
Muralidaran last played an international match in 2011 and he still remains the leading wicket-taker in Tests and ODIs.
Ravichandran Ashwin
A master tactician of spin, Ravichandran Ashwin was destined to take his career from the Chennai streets to the international stage. The Tamil Nadu off-spinner burst onto the scene in the IPL while playing for Chennai Super Kings.
His impressive stint in the IPL opened the doors to play for the Indian team in limited-overs cricket. Soon, the Test call came up, and Ashwin made an immediate mark, spinning his success story on Indian pitches.
His numbers against teams like Australia and England speak for themselves, showcasing his dominance against them. Ashwin has plenty of variations up his sleeve, from off-breaks to carrom balls.
The renowned Indian spinner is still going strong in Test cricket, with 500 scalps to his name. In ODIs, he bagged 156 wickets, while in T20Is, he took 72 wickets for India.
Nathan Lyon
Nathan Lyon’s career coincides with R. Ashwin’s, keeping a constant race between them to be the best off-spinners.
Australia were looking for a spinner to fill the void left by Shane Warne’s retirement, and their search ended with Nathan Lyon. Before turning up for Australia, Lyon worked as a groundsman at the Adelaide Oval but soon found his way to don the baggy green.
Garry, as fondly called by his teammates, had a remarkable start to his career as he dismissed Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara on his first ball in international cricket.
That wicket shaped Lyon’s career, making him the most successful Australian off-spinner in the years to come. He may not have found great success in limited-overs cricket, but he is Australia’s backbone in Tests, with over 500 wickets under his belt.
Harbhajan Singh
Before R. Ashwin’s rise, it was Harbhajan Singh who made the opposition batters’ lives difficult with his finger spin. His exploits against Australia in the 2001 home series are a testament to his sheer skills.
During the same series, Harbhajan racked up 32 wickets in 3 Tests and bagged a hat-trick, making him the first Indian to do so in Tests. He forged a valiant alliance with Anil Kumble, bowling well in tandem with the leg-spinner.
Harbhajan soon took the mantle from Kumble, becoming a mainstay in Tests and ODIs for India. He picked up 417 wickets in 103 Tests, 269 wickets in 236 ODIs, and 25 wickets in 28 T20Is.
Saqlain Mushtaq
Saqlain Mushtaq made himself a name with his clever ‘doosra’ deliveries, which left batters surprised. He even bowled the doosra as soon as a batter came to the crease.
The Pakistani tweaker made his debut at a young age and quickly sealed the spot in the team. Mushtaq had many variations in his armoury, making him an unstoppable force for Pakistan.
His bowling performance against India in the 1999 Test series elevated his stature further. Mushtaq had a commendable career for Pakistan, grabbing 208 Test wickets and 288 ODI wickets.
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