<p>Bengaluru: While most people were perplexed before their mood to wax lyrical about R Ashwin in the aftermath of his retirement on Wednesday, EAS Prasanna was pensive. </p>.<p>‘Who after Ashwin’ was the question percolating through the fabric of his ever-curious mind, and he doesn’t have an answer yet. All he admitted knowing at this point was that ‘it’s a sad day for Indian cricket’. </p>.Did Ashwin get his timing wrong?. <p>“What an incredible bowler he is,” Prasanna tells DH on Thursday. “He is right up there with the greatest spinners of all time. You should also account for the chances he didn’t get when the team was travelling abroad. I don’t think they treated him well because he was actually very good even when he was playing away.</p>.<p>“I think these factors played a part in him quitting. It’s a sad day for Indian cricket,” he adds. </p>.<p>Ashwin finished his career with 537 Test scalps and 3503 runs with the bat from 106 Tests. His away record stands at 150 wickets from 40 games which, all things considered, are not figures that deserve to be wasted on the bench. </p>.<p>“I am very proud of him, and I admire him for taking spin to such a high level. Frankly, I doubt anyone can emulate him, he’s so unique. This really is a big concern for India at the moment,” says the legendary off-spinner. </p>.<p>When asked to detail his anxiety, he says: “Ashwin’s absence is a massive void because he is the guy who gave you middle-over management. That, to me, is imperative in winning Tests. Middle-over management is that time between lunch and tea on the opening day when you’re bowling first. Typically, that phase will give you an indication of where the match is headed. Ashwin was spectacular in that period.”</p>.<p>He continues: “I don’t mean to disrespect Washington (Sundar), but there are a lot of off-spinners who can do what he does - flat, fast, not really spin, more so seam up. No one can do what Ashwin did, and I don’t think we will be able to fill that void for a very long time.”</p>.<p>An ardent student of the game, not unlike Ashwin, Prasanna spends a moment or two more to extinguish his current angst regarding the future before stepping into his analytical bag when asked about what made Ashwin click. </p>.<p>“Spin is about transferring your thoughts into a ball,” he states, without showing any signs of having made a profound statement. “Ashwin is a master at this. He’s also a master of hiding his intentions. Sometimes the ball can carry your intentions too. He’s a very intelligent student of the game, and he has studied the greats to become one himself.”</p>.<p>Ashwin’s unyielding desire to experiment is what made him the second-highest Indian wicket-taker behind Anil Kumble, but Prasanna offered an alternative insight with another bumper-sticker quote. </p>.<p>“Line is optional, length is mandatory,” he says. “Ashwin knew this. Also, his height helped him maintain that length so there was more scope for him to experiment. Shorter spinners tend to drag the ball short when trying things. His height was handy. As for the other deliveries, I clearly remember that ball he bowled to Hashim Amla (the carrom ball), that was beautiful. His desire to experiment is what made him relevant. I don’t think many spinners have that level of ambition or desire.”</p>
<p>Bengaluru: While most people were perplexed before their mood to wax lyrical about R Ashwin in the aftermath of his retirement on Wednesday, EAS Prasanna was pensive. </p>.<p>‘Who after Ashwin’ was the question percolating through the fabric of his ever-curious mind, and he doesn’t have an answer yet. All he admitted knowing at this point was that ‘it’s a sad day for Indian cricket’. </p>.Did Ashwin get his timing wrong?. <p>“What an incredible bowler he is,” Prasanna tells DH on Thursday. “He is right up there with the greatest spinners of all time. You should also account for the chances he didn’t get when the team was travelling abroad. I don’t think they treated him well because he was actually very good even when he was playing away.</p>.<p>“I think these factors played a part in him quitting. It’s a sad day for Indian cricket,” he adds. </p>.<p>Ashwin finished his career with 537 Test scalps and 3503 runs with the bat from 106 Tests. His away record stands at 150 wickets from 40 games which, all things considered, are not figures that deserve to be wasted on the bench. </p>.<p>“I am very proud of him, and I admire him for taking spin to such a high level. Frankly, I doubt anyone can emulate him, he’s so unique. This really is a big concern for India at the moment,” says the legendary off-spinner. </p>.<p>When asked to detail his anxiety, he says: “Ashwin’s absence is a massive void because he is the guy who gave you middle-over management. That, to me, is imperative in winning Tests. Middle-over management is that time between lunch and tea on the opening day when you’re bowling first. Typically, that phase will give you an indication of where the match is headed. Ashwin was spectacular in that period.”</p>.<p>He continues: “I don’t mean to disrespect Washington (Sundar), but there are a lot of off-spinners who can do what he does - flat, fast, not really spin, more so seam up. No one can do what Ashwin did, and I don’t think we will be able to fill that void for a very long time.”</p>.<p>An ardent student of the game, not unlike Ashwin, Prasanna spends a moment or two more to extinguish his current angst regarding the future before stepping into his analytical bag when asked about what made Ashwin click. </p>.<p>“Spin is about transferring your thoughts into a ball,” he states, without showing any signs of having made a profound statement. “Ashwin is a master at this. He’s also a master of hiding his intentions. Sometimes the ball can carry your intentions too. He’s a very intelligent student of the game, and he has studied the greats to become one himself.”</p>.<p>Ashwin’s unyielding desire to experiment is what made him the second-highest Indian wicket-taker behind Anil Kumble, but Prasanna offered an alternative insight with another bumper-sticker quote. </p>.<p>“Line is optional, length is mandatory,” he says. “Ashwin knew this. Also, his height helped him maintain that length so there was more scope for him to experiment. Shorter spinners tend to drag the ball short when trying things. His height was handy. As for the other deliveries, I clearly remember that ball he bowled to Hashim Amla (the carrom ball), that was beautiful. His desire to experiment is what made him relevant. I don’t think many spinners have that level of ambition or desire.”</p>
