India vs Australia: ‘I have watched him a lot trying to learn of him’ – Nathan Lyon plays down any comparison with ‘cagey’ Ravichandran Ashwin
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Ravichandran Ashwin and Nathan Lyon
One cannot help but wonder how similar offspinners Nathan Lyon and Ravichandran Ashwin. Two of the top red ball spinners going around the world are all set to battle it out in a bid to spin their side home in the ongoing Border Gavaskar series. While one grew up bowling the friendly subcontinent conditions, the other toiled his through the ranks on bouncy pitches Down Under. One cannot help but compare these two modern-day greats.
Lyon shares that he watched his Indian counterpart a lot in order to learn how to adapt in the subcontinent. The crafty offspinner went to admit how similar they are yet different in their own ways. To sum it up, Lyon adds that there is comparison between him and Ashwin who is a world class bowler no matter where he bowls.
“Ashwin is a world-class bowler, to be honest. I have watched him a lot especially when I had gone to tour India and the subcontinent to try and learn of him. But he is a very cagey bowler, he has got all the variations,” Lyon said at a virtual press conference.
“He’s very cagey with the way he changes his pace, so he is a very talented bowler. We are similar in a way but we are very different as well, so I can’t really compare myself to him. I think his records speak for his own, so hats off to Ashwin,” he added.
This is the best bowling attack in the world
Lyon is on the cusp of reaching 400 wickets in the longest format and is only 9 wickets away with 391 wickets to his name from 97 Tests. The 33-year-old off-spinner is also set to play the 100th Test of his career in Brisbane during the ongoing series against India. When asked if he has anyone special in his mind for his milestone scalp, Lyon shares that he doesn’t ponder upon it much until it adds a feather to his cap.
“Doesn’t worry me, if it’s (Mayank) Agarwal or (Jasprit) Bumrah, or whoever, batter of bowler, doesn’t worry me whatsoever, just it would be nice feather in the cap to get there,” he said.
In a country which is known for producing legendary quicks, Lyon is an anomoly. On the fast and bouncy pitches Down Under, the finger spinner made his mark very skillfully. Lyon is proud of the current bowling group as he hailed the unit the best in the business. He went on to share about the chemistry among the teammates.
“I have said many times before in my eyes, this is the best bowling attack in the world. We are all, best mates and there is no day goes by when there is not a banter being thrown around in the WhatsApp group,” he said
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Anshuman Mahapatra
(1496 Articles Published)