Ashwin and Axar Patel are proper batters, can bat in top-six of many Test sides: Nathan Lyon

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Veteran Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon has said that Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel are not bowlers who can bat but proper batters who can bat in the top-six of many Test teams in the world.

The praise from Lyon came as Ashwin and Axar stitched a 114-run partnership for the eight wicket in the ongoing second Test of the 4-mach Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The partnership came at the moment when India were reeling at 139/7 in reply to Australia's first innings total of 263. Courtesy the 73 and 37 knocks from Axar and Ashwin respectively, India posted 262 in the first innings.

"They are good batters and they can bat in the top six in many of the Test sides going around. Here they are batting at 8 and 9. They are not bowlers who can bat but proper bowlers," Lyon said in the press conference after the end of Day 2 in Delhi.

Lyon 'unapologetic' on dismissing Pujara for a duck in his 100th Test

Lyon took five wickets in the first innings including that of Cheteshwar Pujara who is playing his 100th Test match. With a cheeky smile, Lyon reminded reporters that the Gabba Test which India won was his 100th Test. Notably, India won the Gabba Test by three wickets, handing the visitors their first loss at the venue in 32 years. With the win, Australia had grabbed the series 2-1.

"Well, Gabba was my 100th Test," he said with a cheeky smile. "I know it is his 100th Test. Fairytales don't come the way (you) like. But over the years, I have had some unbelievable battles with Pujara. It's been pretty amazing," Lyon said while talking about trapping Australia in front of the stumps on Day 2.

The 35-year-old also hoped his batters would post enough runs on the board to put the visitors on top.

"We need to trust the guys' methods when they have the support of the whole change room to go out there and play the way they want to play and the way they think they can combat the quality bowling India have. Whatever we set, we have just got to make sure it's enough," Lyon said in the press conference after Day 2.