Ashwin’s an absolute master in the craft of off-spin – Nathan Lyon

Veteran Australian spinner, Nathan Lyon, has heaped praises on seasoned Indian campaigner, Ravichandran Ashwin. With the Border-Gavaskar Trophy coming up, the Indian’s contribution will be a vital focal point.

Ashwin played a critical role in defining the fate of India’s last tour in Australia, although with the bat, defending the match in Sydney with an injured rib.

Speaking to Star Sports, Lyon made it very clear that he intends to compete with the best and the current roster of Team India is riddled with superstars which will make this a fascinating battle for both the juggernauts of Test cricket. Both Ashwin and Lyon share an amazing camaraderie between them, with Ash suggesting home and away legs meet-up after their international career, with a pinch of humour.

Lyon said, “I know Ashwin, and we debuted around similar times. We’ve competed against each other in a number of series now, and between me and Ashwin, I have 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. Pretty exciting, it is obviously a massive summer for us out here, so we cannot wait to have the Indian guys out here.”

With the fate of the WTC points table currently in balance, India sits at the top with a higher win percentage than Australia. However, with 10 Test matches to be played in the upcoming five months, it is going to be intriguing to see how things shape up for both the sides.