Lyon one of Australia's best, says Brad Hogg

Brag Hogg believes Nathan Lyon and R Ashwin are different bowlers.

Former Australian spinner Brad Hogg, on Thursday, said Nathan Lyon has become one of the best off-spinners Australia has ever produced with his success in sub-continental conditions.

Nathan Lyon | Getty Images

Earlier, the star off-spinner struggled in sub-continental conditions, but later he was quick to realize the work he needed to do in order to become better, and he is now much-improved spinner.

The 30-year-old featured in the straight 6 Tests in the sub-continent and took a whopping 41 wickets at an impressive average of 19.39.

Now, Lyon looks even more dangerous during the ongoing home Ashes series, picking five-wickets in the first Test and had match figures of 6 for 105 in the Adelaide Test.

He proved himself the hosts' go-to man and played a key role in Australia’s 2-0 lead in the Ashes 2017-18 series with his stunning show with the ball. At the moment, Lyon has 280 wickets in his 71 Tests.

Speaking to TOI, Brad Hogg said, “Traditionally, frontline spinners from Australia do struggle in sub-continental conditions as they are different to what we get back home. Lyon did have his learning phase early on, but he was quick to realize the work he needed to do in order to become better. Today, Lyon has grown into one of the best off-spinners Australia has ever produced.”

He further added, “He banks a lot on his stock delivery. Lyon comes over the top of the ball more and that's how he gets a lot of bounce and turn on Australian conditions. But that's not something which will help him in the subcontinent and he has adapted to that as well. On Indian wickets, Lyon was seen bowling a lot of arm ball that goes straight on and he delivered it with a square seam. The end result was that he got a lot of wickets in India.”

On being asked to compare Lyon with Indian spin sensation R Ashwin, Hogg made it clear that both are different bowlers. He concluded by saying, “If you look at any career - you can claim to have mastered the art only if you are able to perform in foreign conditions. That's the key and that's what I loved about Lyon. Ashwin is tall and his height gives him a huge advantage and he uses it accordingly. He has been the top-ranked spinner in the world for some time now and Lyon can hold his head up and say he is up there with Ashwin now.”

 
 

By Rashmi Nanda - 08 Dec, 2017

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