'Ashwin Is One of My Biggest Coaches' - Nathan Lyon

image-lq3nyxbc"Image: x.com

In a testament to the enduring legacy of spin bowling, two modern greats, Ravichandran Ashwin and Nathan Lyon, are on the brink of cricketing history as they approach the monumental milestone of 500 Test wickets. Drawing parallels to the legendary duo of Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan, Ashwin and Lyon, despite being Test specialists, have etched their names in the annals of cricketing folklore with their stellar performances for India and Australia, respectively.

As Lyon stands on the precipice with 496 wickets, the Australian spinner acknowledged the profound impact that his Indian counterpart, Ashwin, has had on his illustrious career. Lyon, reminiscing about their shared cricketing odyssey since 2010, expressed, 

"When you observe Ashwin, he's an elite bowler whom I've closely observed since the inception of his career. Our encounters in diverse conditions worldwide have fostered immense respect for Ashwin and his approach. Undoubtedly, I've gleaned valuable lessons from our battles on the field."

In a surprising revelation, Lyon went on to label Ashwin as "one of my biggest coaches in a way".

"Expressing admiration for the Indian spinner's skill and resilience, Lyon highlighted the opportunity to learn from opponents. We'll have to wait and see where this goes, but it's pretty amazing to see that we're both approaching the 500 mark. Hopefully, at the end of our career, we'll sit down and have a nice feed and a beer and talk about it," Lyon added.

Aged 34 and 36, both pivotal for their teams, spinners Lyon and Ashwin are set for challenges. Lyon, back from injury, eyes Australia's series against Pakistan and dreams of surpassing Warne's 708 wickets, stating, "I want to play cricket for as long as I can”. He aims for triumphs in India and England, uncharted territories for him.

With Ashwin also closing in on the 500-wicket milestone, having scalped 489 wickets from 94 matches, the cricketing world awaits in anticipation of this historic feat. Stuart Broad stands as the only bowler with more wickets since the duo's Test debut in 2010, underscoring their remarkable consistency.

As Lyon prepares for the Pakistan series, he teeters on the brink of entering an exclusive echelon occupied by just three spinners—Shane Warne, Muttiah Muralitharan, and Anil Kumble—with 500 or more Test wickets. 

With the cricketing world anxiously observing, Lyon stays concentrated on his mission, keen to play a pivotal role in Australia's pursuit of a remarkable sixth consecutive series whitewash against Pakistan.