Former South African cricketer Paul Adams stated that Australian spinner Nathan Lyon is a more ‘complete’ bowler than Team India bowler Ravichandran Ashwin. Paul Adams said that Nathan Lyon can adapt to different conditions, adding that he did well in subcontinent conditions as well as in Australia.
Ravichandran Ashwin and Nathan Lyon are two of the most successful spinners in Test cricket history. Ashwin has secured 536 wickets in 105 Tests, while Lyon has taken 530 wickets in 129 matches. Both spinners will be next seen in action during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT), starting on November 22.
Ravichandran Ashwin and Nathan Lyon performances in Test cricket
Ravichandran Ashwin and Nathan Lyon are two modern-day greats, and with the stage set for a lip-smacking Border-Gavaskar Trophy, world cricket cannot wait to watch how the battle of the spinner unveils. Ravichandran Ashwin, who has 536 Test wickets in 105 Tests, will go head-to-head with Nathan Lyon, who is just a shade behind and has 530 wickets from 129 matches. Although pitches in Australia have traditionally assisted pace more than spin, every time Ashwin and Nathan Lyon have the ball in their hands, history can take a walk.
The five-Test series between India and Australia will headline several key individual contests – Pat Cummins vs Virat Kohli, Mitchell Starc vs Rohit Sharma, and Jasprit Bumrah vs Travis Head. Ashwin vs Lyon may not be as blockbuster a rivalry, but it could very well determine the outcome of the series. The two have always marveled at not only their craft but shared mutual admiration towards what the other has achieved. The best off-spinner in the world debate is up for grabs. Who will take the bragging rights would be interesting.
Ahead of the marquee series, former South Africa left-arm spinner Paul Adams has made his opinion clear about who he rates a more ‘complete’ bowler between Ashwin and Nathan Lyon. Before getting into his comment, here are some numbers. Ashwin, 38, has taken 383 wickets out of 536 in India. When it comes to SENA countries, the off-spinner has taken a total of 71 wickets in 25 matches. The breakdown of these wickets is as follows – 39 wickets in Australia, 18 in England, 3 in New Zealand and 11 in South Africa.
Nathan Lyon, 36, has taken 259 wickets out of his 530 in Australia. In Asia, in particular, Nathan Lyon has scalped 140 wickets in 28 matches, and the breakdown is as follows: 22 in Bangladesh, 56 in India, 12 in Pakistan, 35 in Sri Lanka, and 15 in the UAE.
That being said, Ashwin has often warmed the bench overseas, with India preferring Ravindra Jadeja on account of him being a better batter. In Australia, Ashwin has taken 39 wickets in 10 matches, whereas in Indian conditions too, Nathan Lyon has scalped 56 Tests in 11 matches. However, Paul Adams reckons Nathan Lyon is a more complete bowler than Ashwin.
Paul Adams calls Nathan Lyon a more complete bowler than Ravichandran Ashwin ahead of BGT 2024-25
Former South African spinner Paul Adams reckons that Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon is a more ‘complete’ bowler in comparison to his Indian counterpart Ravichandran Ashwin. According to Adams, of the two spinners, Nathan Lyon challengers the batters a lot more.
Nathan Lyon and Ashwin are two of the most successful spinners in the history of Test cricket. The Aussie has 530 wickets from 129 Test matches, while the latter has claimed 536 scalps in 105 Tests. Both spinners will be in action when team India take on Australia in the five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy from November 22.
In a virtual interaction arranged by SA20, Adams shared his thoughts on the Ashwin vs Lyon debate. He opined [as quoted by news agency PTI]:
“I still think Nathan Lyon has a more complete game in terms of competing in subcontinent and in Australia or South Africa, those type of conditions, than Ashwin.”
“He (Ashwin) has a carrom ball that can turn the ball the opposite ways. But Lyon has been someone who has bowled with a lot of over-spin. That challenges the batters,” the 47-year-old added.
India has recently opted for rank turners at home, but this strategy has sometimes backfired as their batters have struggled against left-arm spinners. Players like Steve O’Keefe, Tom Hartley, Ajaz Patel, and Mitchell Santner have troubled the Indian batting lineup. Adams claimed 134 scalps in 45 Tests at an average of 32.87, with four five-fers and one ten-wicket match haul. He was renowned for his ‘frog in a blender action.
India now faces a stern Australian test starting 22nd November in Perth and it would be interesting to see who amongst Nathan Lyon and Ravichandran Ashwin come on the top.