Experienced speedster Stuart Broad has said that neutralising Nathan Lyon’s bowling effect could be one of the important parts of England’s success in the upcoming Ashes series. He also feels that the visitors can take cues from how India played him in Australia. Although Lyon is Australia’s most successful off-spinner, he will be under pressure to do well in the Ashes.

However, he had a forgettable campaign last summer, taking only nine wickets in four Tests which came at 55.11.  Stuart Broad, meanwhile, feels Lyon is the key bowler despite their strong pace attack. While speaking to News Corp, Broad said that England could look to do the way India did in their series win Down Under as well.

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He said: “We’ve studied what Hazlewood, Cummins and Starc have done for a long period of time and the role Nathan Lyon plays, I actually think he’s their key man. He’s so consisten,t and it allows their bowlers to bowl the spells and overs they do. India played him really well, and I think that helped play a key role in India winning that series, how they played him here. Our batters have to look at that. We’ve played Lyon in Australia very poorly for long periods of time. This is the series where that has to change.”

Stuart Broad also said that England has to do well against Nathan Lyon to win in Australia. He also praised Lyon’s skills and wicket-taking ability too. The first Ashes Test will start on Wednesday at the Gabba in Brisbane.

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“He’s someone who brings great control in the first innings. We’ve got to play him better, there’s no getting away from that. We can’t put our heads in the sand, and pretend we’ve played him well. He’s just a really consistent bowler at what he does. He’s a top spin bowler who gets good bounce. We know, we’ve played enough against him now to know what he does. Let’s find a better way to play him,” concluded Stuart Broad.