Both Muttiah Muralitharan and Ravichandran Ashwin are cricket legends. Though their careers are in different eras, we can still compare their stats and impact on their teams. Let’s look at the four key areas to understand their greatness:
Overall Stats
After 66 Test matches, Murali and Ashwin’s numbers were remarkably close:
| Statistic | Murali (After 66 Tests) | Ashwin (After 66 Tests) |
|---|---|---|
| Wickets | 350 | 350 |
| 10+ Wickets in a Match | 7 | 7 |
| 5-Wicket Hauls | 28 | 27 |
| Bowling Average | 24.79 | 25.39 |
| Strike Rate (Balls per Wicket) | 61.8 | 53.6 |
Updated Stats as of 2024
| Statistic | Murali (End of Career) | Ashwin (Till Sep 2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Matches Played | 133 | 94 |
| Wickets | 800 | 507 |
| 10+ Wickets in a Match | 22 | 8 |
| 5-Wicket Hauls | 67 | 34 |
| Bowling Average | 22.72 | 23.98 |
| Strike Rate (Balls per Wicket) | 55.0 | 52.4 |
Conclusion: Both have had excellent careers, but Murali’s final numbers are significantly higher.
Cricketing Conditions (Home vs Away)
Both Murali and Ashwin performed well in home conditions, but Murali was more consistent across different environments.
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Performance in Home and Away Matches
| Condition | Murali (After 66 Tests) | Ashwin (After 66 Tests) |
|---|---|---|
| Home Wickets per Match | 6.2 | 6.3 |
| Away Wickets per Match | 4.4 | 2.7 |
| Home Bowling Average | 20.4 | 22.5 |
| Away Bowling Average | 30.2 | 38.09 |
Updated Stats (2024):
| Condition | Murali (Career) | Ashwin (Till Sep 2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Home Wickets per Match | 6.7 | 6.5 |
| Away Wickets per Match | 4.5 | 3.1 |
| Home Bowling Average | 19.6 | 21.2 |
| Away Bowling Average | 27.8 | 31.2 |
Conclusion: Murali remains dominant both at home and away, whereas Ashwin’s performance outside Asia is still lacking.
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Peer Comparison
Comparing Murali and Ashwin with their teammates in their eras:
| Statistic | Murali (After 66 Tests) | Ashwin (After 66 Tests) |
|---|---|---|
| % of Team Wickets Taken | 38% | 31.14% |
| Support from Teammates | Lower | Higher (Jadeja, Shami) |
Conclusion: Murali was often the sole match-winner for Sri Lanka, while Ashwin has had strong support.
Impact on Team, Wins, and Culture
Murali had a more significant impact on his team’s results, especially in Sri Lanka’s rise in Test cricket.
| Statistic | Murali | Ashwin |
|---|---|---|
| Man of the Match Awards (After 66 Tests) | 10 | 7 (3 for Batting) |
| % of Team Wickets Taken | 38% | 31.14% |
Conclusion: Murali’s contribution was more focused on bowling, whereas Ashwin contributed both as a bowler and a batsman. However, Murali’s bowling dominance gives him the edge.
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