R Ashwin with Nathan Lyon. (FILE)
Nathan Lyon and Ravichandran Ashwin are arguably the best red-ball spinners in the last decade. They have played pivotal parts for their sides over the years contributing to memorable wins. Both with a little over 500 test scalps will add to another sub-plot to the already narrative-filled Australia vs India Test series later this year.
“I know Ashwin and we debuted around similar times and we’ve competed against each other in a number of series now and between me and Ashwin I have got nothing but respect for him. I feel like I love watching him bowl, he’s an absolute master in the craft of off-spin bowling and it’s been an absolute privilege to play against him and learn from him.” Lyon said speaking to Star Sports.
Earlier in an interview, Lyon would acknowledge that Ashwin has been his biggest coach. “There’s an opportunity to learn from the people you play against, and without knowing it he’s probably been one of my biggest coaches in a way.”
What did Joe Root say on facing both?
England’s Joe Root is arguably one of the best players of spin in world cricket and has faced substantial amounts of both Ashwin and Lyon over his career. Speaking of the difference in facing them he would say on Sky Sports: “I’d say, Ashwin is making sure that you don’t play the previous ball. He is very good at trying to drag you across the crease and get your head to one side of it and beat both edges quite frequently”
“With Lyon it is all about, I think, especially in the first half of the Test match to get really over the top of the ball, get bounce bowl in between you like the knee roll and hit and try to bring short leg and leg slip into the game as much as he can and then just slowly, get slower with his pace and drift wider into that. There’s that footmarks, um, Mitchell Starc has so kindly done for him for such a long period of time,” explained Root
