Nathan Lyon equates India-Australia rivalry with Ashes

Nathan Lyon equates India-Australia rivalry with Ashes: The Australian spinner is looking forward to the challenge of hosting India later this year.

Australia and New South Wales spinner Nathan Lyon has welcomed fellow spinner Adam Zampa’s move to return back to the state and hopes to help him out with cricket’s ancestral format.

“It’s great to see Adam [Zampa] back here at NSW. Obviously we’ve played really good white-ball cricket together. We had a great tour of India a couple of years ago in the white-ball format and got the result over there playing together.

“Hopefully, I can help Adam out with his red-ball cricket, but I’m happy to help out anyone and making sure they can get better,” Lyon was quoted as saying by Sporting News.

Being asked on the resumption of cricket post the COVID-19 pandemic, Australia’s premier spinner didn’t shy away from mentioning that he doesn’t pay much heed to the media reports.

“Well, we know that something will come eventually. We’re getting some really good preparation under the belt and can enjoy spending some time at home.

“I don’t listen to the media at all. You guys know a lot more than I do. I’ve got no idea when we play next or when potential tours are or anything. It’s just about coming here and enjoying training with NSW,” Lyon said.

Nathan Lyon equates India-Australia rivalry with Ashes

Lyon, who was part of the Australian team which lost a Test series against India for the first time at home in 2018-19, equated the India-Australia rivalry with the Ashes. With India set to tour again this summer, the 32-year old player is considering it as an “amazing challenge”.

“You never like losing series or games of cricket for Australia. India a couple of years ago, they outplayed us. But we’re looking forward to having those guys come here, it’s getting up there to the pinnacle series alongside the Ashes.

ALSO READ: Matthew Wade to avoid verbal battle with Virat Kohli during India series

“They’ve got a side full of superstars and it’s going to be an amazing challenge this Australian summer when they get out here,” Lyon added.

In 18 Tests against India, Lyon has dismissed 85 batsmen at an average of 32.60, an economy rate of 3.24 and a strike rate of 60.2.

About the author

Dixit Bhargav

Born and brought up in Pathankot, Dixit Bhargav is an engineering and sports management graduate who works as a Cricket Editor at The SportsRush. Having written more than 10,000 articles across more than five years at TSR, his first cricketing memory dates back to 2002 when former India captain Sourav Ganguly had waved his jersey at the historic Lord’s balcony. What followed for an 8-year-old was an instant adulation for both Ganguly and the sport. The optimist in him is waiting for the day when Punjab Kings will win their maiden Indian Premier League title. When not watching cricket, he is mostly found in a cinema hall watching a Punjabi movie.

Read More