Ashwin Applauds New Zealand's Rookie Spinner Jayden Lennox
Indian cricket legend Ravichandran Ashwin has showered praise on New Zealand's rookie spinner Jayden Lennox. Ashwin called Lennox a clever operator after watching him perform in the deciding third ODI in Indore.
High-Scoring Series Highlights Bowling Prowess
The India-New Zealand ODI series featured plenty of runs. This made strong bowling performances even more valuable. With experienced spinner Mitchell Santner absent, Lennox's contribution became particularly significant.
At 31 years old, Lennox entered the series with limited international experience. He had played just 21 first-class matches and about 50 List A games over six years. Yet his maturity against Indian batters impressed everyone.
The pitches offered little assistance to spinners. Still, Lennox displayed remarkable control and intelligence throughout the matches.
Ashwin's Detailed Praise for the Kiwi Spinner
Watching from the sidelines, Ashwin took to social media to express his admiration. The off-spinner with over 537 Test wickets wrote about Lennox's exceptional qualities.
"This Jayden Lennox is such a clever operator," Ashwin stated. He continued, "His intellect will be applauded by most, but his control over speed and length is exceptional."
Ashwin accompanied his statement with a clapping emoji. This gesture confirmed that the New Zealand journeyman had won admiration from one of cricket's most analytical minds.
Lennox's Impressive Performance Statistics
Lennox made his debut in Rajkot during the series. The left-arm spinner from Hawke's Bay delivered an economical spell of 10 overs for just 42 runs. He claimed the wicket of dangerous batsman Harshit Rana as India posted 284 runs.
His control proved remarkable throughout the match. Lennox conceded only two boundaries despite bowling during challenging phases. He operated both inside the Powerplay and in the 48th over.
The Indore decider showcased even better performance from the spinner. Lennox again gave away just 42 runs as India chased 338 for victory. He dismissed last match's centurion KL Rahul and later removed Ravindra Jadeja.
This achievement became more impressive considering the match-up favored the batter against left-arm spin.
Maintaining Control Against Top Batsmen
Lennox bowled his entire spell while Virat Kohli batted in prime form. Despite this pressure, he conceded just one boundary. Harshit Rana hit a flat-batted six in his final over during the 41st over of the innings.
Indian batsmen needed to take risks with the required run rate climbing rapidly. Yet Lennox maintained remarkable discipline throughout his spell.
In this high-scoring encounter, the Central Districts spinner delivered 23 dot balls. This statistic perfectly illustrated Ashwin's observation about his cleverness and control.
Outperforming Celebrated Indian Spinners
Lennox comfortably outperformed India's more celebrated spin duo. Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja together conceded 89 runs in 12 overs. They managed only one wicket between them.
The New Zealand spinner's background in science and technology might explain his analytical approach. He clearly maximizes his abilities through careful planning and execution.
Ashwin's praise highlights how Lennox has made a significant impact despite his limited international experience. His performance against a strong Indian batting lineup demonstrates exceptional skill and composure.
