Veteran Australia spinner Nathan Lyon paid tribute to star India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin by crediting him as one of his biggest coaches. Nearing the 500-wicket mark, the veteran revealed that he respects Ashwin immensely and has learnt a lot from him. However, Lyon and Ashwin have arguably been the best Test bowlers of their time, compiling over 900 wickets together as well. With Lyon having played more Tests than Ashwin, he’s only four short of 500 wickets and could achieve the landmark in the first Test against Pakistan in Perth on December 14 as well.

Speaking to cricket.com.au on Wednesday, the veteran said, “You look at Ashwin, he’s a world-class bowler and somebody I’ve watched closely from the start of his career. We’ve gone head-to-head many times in different conditions around the world.”I’ve got nothing but respect for Ashwin and the way he’s gone about it. There’s an opportunity to learn from the people you play against, and without knowing it, he’s probably been one of my biggest coaches in a way.”

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However, R Ashwin notably surpassed his Australian counterpart during the 2020-21 Border Gavaskar Trophy where he took 12 wickets in three Tests at 28.83 while Lyon managed nine scalps in four Tests at over 55 as well.

“I’m not putting a number on it. I want to play cricket for as long as I can. Haven’t won (a Test series) in India, haven’t won in England – that’s two places that I want to do, so with the injury happening a couple of months ago I feel like there’s a passion there to keep going and keep trying to get better. I’m feeling really confident, really happy with where everything is at and it’s just about going out there and performing now,” Nathan Lyon concluded.