Former South Africa spinner Paul Adams said that Nathan Lyon has a more complete game than Ravi Ashwin. Both Lyon and Ashwin are amongst the greatest Test bowlers and feature in the top 10 of most wickets in the history of the purest format. Both legendary spinners will come face-to-face when India and Australia lock horns in a five-match Test series in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
With 536 wickets from 105 Tests, Ashwin is the seventh-highest wicket-taker in Tests. Lyon is behind him with 530 scalps from 129 Tests. 47-year-old Adams, who played 45 Tests for the Proteas, said that Lyon knows the tricks to succeed in different conditions.
“I still think Nathan Lyon has a more complete game in terms of competing in the subcontinent and in Australia or South Africa, those types of conditions, than Ashwin,” Adams said in a virtual interaction arranged by SA20.
“He 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,” Adams said.
Shami will be a major miss in Australia: Paul Adams
Adams, who took 134 wickets in his Test cricket, also said that India will miss the services of Mohammed Shami in the upcoming series. Shami hasn’t played any form of cricket since the ODI World Cup final against Australia due to multiple injuries.
“I think he will be a major miss for India, given the Australian conditions. The pace and bouncy wickets in Australia would have helped India in gaining the upper hand if Shami had been in the squad but that’s not in the selector’s hands as he is recovering, but I think he will be missed,” Adams added.
India’s opening Test against Pat Cummins’ Australia starts on November 22 at the Perth Stadium. Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney will host the remaining three Tests.
