'Hats Off To Ash': Nathan Lyon Comes To R Ashwin's Rescue Amid Criticism And Calls For Retirement

After Team India's defeat to New Zealand, R Ashwin has faced widespread criticism after failing to make impact. The Indian spin bowler took some key wickets in New Zealand's historic 3-0 defeat, but unlike the Bangladesh Tests, they were insufficient to derail the team's momentum. As BGT approaches, Australia's Nathan Lyon speaks out in support of Ash, the veteran Indian spinner.

Nathan Lyon Heaps Laurels Over Spin Bowling Icon R Ashwin's Brilliance

While speaking to Fox Cricket, Nathan Lyon heaps applause over R Ashwin before India faces Australia at Perth's Optus Stadium for the Border Gavaskar Trophy. Lyon acknowledged his Indian counterpart, stating that their faceoffs since 2011–12 have taught him a lot.

"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. He’s an incredibly smart bowler, and he’s able to learn and adapt very quickly, and I think the best bowlers in the world are able to do that. He used his skills to benefit himself and his team. So, you’ve got to give credit where credit’s due, he was the best bowler (in 2020/21), as he usually is. So, hats off to Ash.

“He’s taught me a lot. I’m a big believer in the players that you play against are your best coaches that you eventually come across… I’ve watched a lot of his footage heading over to India, the way he goes about it here in Australia, see if I can pick up anything. The way I look at cricket is that I’ve never met anyone who has conquered the game, never played against or with anyone who’s conquered the game," Nathan Lyon said.

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Nathan Lyon also praised R Ashwin by calling him a world-class bowler and went on to say that there is a lot for me to learn from him. Lyon supports the argument by claiming that the Indian spin veteran should be very proud of scalping over 500 test match wickets.

Nathan Lyon and R Ashwin will play each other for the eighth time in the longest format in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy five-Test series, which starts in Perth on November 22. They both made their Test debuts in the same year.

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[With PTI Inputs]