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.
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.
