Former Sri Lankan all-rounder Russel Arnold has shared his views on the young Indian left-arm spinner Manav Suthar, who scalped an exceptional 10-wicket match haul in the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle.
Speaking to a select group of media personnel on Sony Sports Network, Arnold reckoned that Suthar has played only two Tests and both came in helpful Asian conditions. He went on to add that the young spinner needs to prove his worth in different conditions to be termed special.
“Well, he was good. It is just two Test matches, one against Afghanistan in India and now one here. So, to say the word special amongst the others, I’m not too sure he is there yet, because he will have to show himself in different conditions. These are, at the end of the day, helpful conditions,” Russel Arnold told Sony Sports Network.
Furthermore, Arnold likened Suthar to the former legendary spinner Ravi Ashwin, stating that he will play a part in holding one end up even in good batting conditions. For the unversed, scalped 4/76 in the first innings and 6/55 in the second.
“But everything to like, you need bowlers who give you control, and that is what he does. You have the batter guessing all the time; he is accurate. So, even on a good pitch, he will play a part in holding one end up, something that Ravichandran Ashwin, when he played in foreign conditions, would do. He would not get many wickets, but the economy rate would be so low that the batters are not breaking free and allowed the Indian fast bowlers to attack from the other end. There is a lot of value in that. On helpful pitches, Manav Suthar will come into his own, but beyond that, also because of his simplicity,” he added.
The 2nd Test match of the India tour of Sri Lanka starts on Sunday, August 23 at the Sinhalese Sports Club Cricket Ground in Colombo.
