The modern-day spin-bowling legend Nathan Lyon has expressed his surprise over the exclusion of the veteran spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja from the Indian playing XI. Australia National Cricket Team spinner Nathan Lyon said that he was more than surprised to see Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja getting dropped for the Perth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25.
Speaking candidly to the media, veteran Australian spinner Nathan Lyon was frank about his response when Ravichandran Ashwin was benched for the first Test in Perth. Nathan Lyon mentioned that Ashwin, who has 530+ wickets in Test cricket, was left out of India’s playing XI, and this surprised him.
Washington Sundar preferred over Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja in the first Test
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy kicked off on an entertaining note as India beat Australia by 295 runs in the series opener at Perth. Fast bowlers dominated the entire contest with two spinners, Washington Sundar and Nathan Lyon, settling for 2 wickets each in 4 innings.
The Gautam Gambhir-led coaching staff gave preference to Washington Sundar over the veterans Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja in the Perth Test despite the limited experience of Sundar.
This decision left many surprised, as no one was expecting Sundar to be selected in the team. Over the years, Ravindra Jadeja has been the first-choice spinner of the team in the SENA Tests and he has done a great job for the team as well. However, the new support staff of Gambhir decided to give opportunity to the talented all-rounder Sundar.
Talking about the record of the veteran spinners in Australia, Ashwin has featured in 10 Test matches and has bagged 39 wickets at an average of 42.15, and, with the bat, he has scored 384 runs. On the other hand, Ravindra Jadeja has played 4 Test matches, scored 175 runs, and picked 14 wickets at an average of 21.78.
However, India chose Washington Sundar over experienced Test players Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, which left many fans in shock, including Australian spin legend Nathan Lyon. Speaking to reporters ahead of the Adelaide Test, Nathan Lyon said that Ashwin and Jadeja, who have over 800 Test wickets combined, being benched shows the quality of Indian cricket.
Nathan Lyon shares his surprized opinion on Ravichandran Ashwin’s exclusion from India’s XI in 1st BGT 2024-25 Test
Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon expressed surprise at his Indian counterpart Ravichandran Ashwin’s exclusion from the playing XI in the first Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test in Perth. Despite being the seventh leading wicket-taker in Test history, Ashwin was left out in favor of fellow Tamil Nadu off-spinner Washington Sundar.
As India went with only one specialist spin-bowling option, both veteran spinners Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja warmed the benches in the series opener. However, their exclusions had no negative impact on the visitors as they completed a massive 295-run victory to take a 1-0 series lead.
Speaking to the reporters in the build-up to the second Test, Lyon, however, was surprised at Ashwin and his long-time spin-bowling partner Jadeja’s absence from the playing XI.
“More than surprises me. But the quality of Indian cricketers that they got in that squad, don’t they? You’ve got Ashwin and 530 odd wickets and then you got Ravindra Jadeja over 300 wickets or whatever it may be. So it’s pretty remarkable to see the quality of player tha are sitting on the bench. But I can’t control with who they run out, bu it would be a good challenge, no matter who they bring out,” he said via India Today.
India’s selection of their lone spinner was clearly based on recent form as Sundar outbowled Ashwin and Jadeja in the home series against New Zealand before the Australian tour. The young off-spinner, however, did not have much of a role in the first innings, bowling only two overs. Yet, he enjoyed a longer spell in the second innings and finished with excellent figures of 2/48 in 15 overs.
India boasts extraordinary players like Bumrah and others, but it’s not just about the superstars – Nathan Lyon
Nathan Lyon has claimed that Australia’s focus is not only on India’s star players but their entire well-rounded side, heading into the second Test.
India’s key superstars, Jasprit Bumrah and Virat Kohli, produced the goods in the opening Test, with the former picking up eight wickets and the latter scoring an unbeaten century in the second innings. Yet, Team India were also well-served by a crucial 201-run opening stand between Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul and five wickets from Mohammed Siraj.
“I look at the Indian squad and see a group of superstars. Cricket, however, is a team game-winning requires the entire side to perform well. India boasts extraordinary players like Bumrah and others, but it’s not just about the superstars. The rest of the Indian squad is also incredibly talented. They’re an incredible cricket team. We’re not focusing solely on any one player, that’s for sure,” said Lyon.
Nathan Lyon added:
“We have nothing but respect for every Indian cricketer who takes the field on Friday. That doesn’t mean we’re not going to compete. We respect them, but we’re determined to play our brand of cricket and compete hard against a quality side. India is one of the best teams in the world.”
Meanwhile, Australia will look to even up the best-of-five series with a bounce-back performance in the second Test in Adelaide, starting December 6.
With the second Test scheduled at the Adelaide Oval, a pink-ball day-night affair, all eyes are on India’s squad selection. The return of Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill to the playing XI might force youngsters Devdutt Padikkal and Dhruv Jurel to sit out. The inclusion of Ashwin, who thrives in day-night conditions with his variation and experience, remains a key talking point. For Australia, Josh Hazlewood misses out with a side strain, with Scott Boland’s inclusion being the only change.