Nathan Lyon Recognises the Influence of Ravichandran Ashwin on His Bowling Career

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Veteran Australian spinner Nathan Lyon acknowledges that rival players often make the best coaches. He credits Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin for teaching him a lot through their encounters since 2011-12.

Both made their Test debuts in the same year and will meet again in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series starting on November 22 in Perth.

Lyon has faced Ashwin numerous times and admires his skills. "Ash Ashwin is an incredible bowler. I’ve gone head-to-head with him for basically my whole career, so I’ve learned a lot from Ash," Lyon told Fox Cricket. He praised Ashwin's ability to adapt quickly and credited him as the best bowler in 2020/21.

Test Performance Comparison

Ashwin has taken 39 wickets in 10 Tests in Australia, averaging 42.15. Lyon admits to studying Ashwin's bowling closely, especially before touring India. "He’s taught me a lot," Lyon said. He believes players you compete against can be your best coaches, and he has watched much of Ashwin's footage to learn from him.

Lyon respects Ashwin's achievements, noting his over 500 Test wickets. In Asia, Ashwin boasts a superior Test bowling average of 21.76 compared to Lyon's 30.81. However, outside Asia, Lyon has a better average of 30.09 against Ashwin's 33.14.

Future Prospects and Spin Bowling

When asked about future faceoffs with Ashwin, Lyon expressed optimism about spin bowling improving with age. "There’s definitely no limit for me," he said, hinting at future series encounters. He also shared insights into his success on non-spinning tracks but kept some secrets close.

Australia hasn't won a Test series against India in nearly ten years, but Lyon believes their World Test Championship final win last year gives them an edge. "India’s got the wood over us in the past few series," he noted, but their recent victory boosts confidence for the upcoming summer.

India recently suffered a rare 0-3 home defeat against New Zealand, which Lyon thinks will make them more determined. He described India as "extremely dangerous" and anticipates an exciting Test series. With only a few players having held the trophy before, Lyon feels it's time to bring it back to Australia.