Ravichandran Ashwin vs Nathan Lyon: Who Is Better After 105 Test Matches?

Ravichandran Ashwin and Nathan Lyon [Source: @sas_3343, @CricCrazyJohns/x.com]Ravichandran Ashwin and Nathan Lyon [Source: @sas_3343, @CricCrazyJohns/x.com]

Ravichandran Ashwin and Nathan Lyon are the two best off-spinners in contemporary cricket. These two bowlers have redefined spin bowling in their own unique ways and have played great parts in the performance of their respective teams in the purest format of the game.

With the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 about to start, it is expected that the performance of these two spinners will go a long way in determining the fate of the series. In this article, we will try and examine statistically who has been the more impactful performer for his team in the purest format of the game.

Ravichandran Ashwin vs Nathan Lyon: Current Form

Categories
Ravichandran Ashwin
Nathan Lyon
Matches55
Wickets2025
Average29.1517.44
Strike Rate48.6036.80

When it comes to current form, Nathan Lyon has the best numbers of the two. In the last five matches, Ashwin has picked up 20 wickets, and Lyon has 25 scalps in his name. Besides pure numbers, efficiency is also in Lyon’s favour. The Australian spinner has a wicket nearly every 37 deliveries, conceding approximately 37 runs. On the other hand, Ashwin, in these five matches, has wickets for every 49 deliveries while conceding approximately 29 runs. 

Moving ahead, let us take a deeper look at the test careers of these two spinners. Ravichandran Ashwin has played 105 Test matches so far, while Nathan Lyon has played 129. So, we will try to analyse their impact after 105 Test matches.

Ravichandran Ashwin vs Nathan Lyon: After 105 Test Matches

Categories
Ravichandran Ashwin
Nathan Lyon
Matches105105
Wickets536415
Average23.9531.79
Strike Rate50.6064.20

When it comes to the numbers after 105 Test matches, Ravi Ashwin is leagues ahead of Nathan Lyon. While Ashwin has 536 wickets under his belt after 105 matches, Nathan Lyon had 415.

Not only in the case of simple numbers but even when it comes to efficiency, Ashwin edges Lyon by leaps and bounds. The Indian star has picked up a wicket every 51 deliveries while conceding only 24 runs. After his 105th Test, Lyon had a wicket after every 64 deliveries while conceding nearly 32 runs. 

Yes, Ashwin has got the spin-friendly tracks more often in his career than Nathan Lyon. But the strike rate and efficiency of the Indian spinner is nearly unbelievable. Nathan Lyon is one of the greatest spinners to have graced the game from Australia, but in comparison with Ashwin, the Indian star is a bigger match-winner than him.