Australia’s Nathan Lyon is currently one of the finest red-ball spinners in the world. He started his career as a member of the ground-staff team at Adelaide Oval and became a valuable asset in the Australian Test team. Having cemented his place in the side after the 2013 Ashes, Lyon played 124 Test matches and recently joined the elite list of bowlers who have taken 500 wickets in the format.
The veteran became the fourth spinner in history to achieve the milestone with the wicket of Faheem Ashraf during the ongoing Test series against Pakistan. En route to his historic feat, Lyon managed to become a nightmare for many batters. However, the 36-year-old, who has been a vital cog of the Australian bowling attack for more than a decade, admitted that some players have posed serious challenges.
When asked to name one great player he has ever played against, Lyon reckoned that he has played against many of the greats of the game and that it would be difficult to pick just one. He then revealed three names, two of which were Indian. Modern-day great Virat Kohli tops the list, followed by legendary batter Sachin Tendulkar and South African maestro AB de Villiers.
“The best player I have played against, that’s a very hard question. I have played against some of the greats of the game. I will give you three (names), they will be Virat Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar and AB de Villiers,” Lyon said.
Watch the video below:
Nathan Lyon on the best players he's played against:
Virat Kohli.
Sachin Tendulkar.
AB De Villiers.pic.twitter.com/XLy5Ux8tAB— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) January 1, 2024
The off-spinner also revealed the secret to dismissing these batters. Trying to challenge their defence for long periods is what he used to do to get those players out. “The secret to get them out, something that I struggle to do would be trying to challenge their defence for a long period of time,” Lyon said.
With 505 wickets, Lyon is currently eighth on the list of all-time leading wicket-takers in Test cricket. He will next be in action against Pakistan in the final Test in Sydney on January 3. Australia have already clinched the three-match series with two comprehensive wins.
Here’s how fans reacted:
Great player Indian ki Sahi leta hai
— Sultan (@Sultan_BA56) January 1, 2024
Yep, those three are absolute legends in the cricketing world. ??
— Sonam Murarkar (@murarkar_sonam) January 1, 2024
Lyon kept King Kohli at the top of his list.
— Shivam. (@shivamkumar142) January 1, 2024
Three greatest icons of cricket game in our time era. ??
— cricket fan ? (@lokesh096188602) January 1, 2024
Best spin wizard after Warne , always match winner for his side
— Harpreet Singh (@sourcezy) January 1, 2024
Virat kohli is in everyone's list ? pic.twitter.com/sKO3zHrGjg
— CHADitya ? (@CHADitya_18) January 1, 2024
He forgot his new daddy ? Rishabh pant ?
— ? ????? ?? ? (@Tinku_Ji_) January 1, 2024
GOAT praising ??
— Priyanshu Tripathi (@Priyans39878144) January 1, 2024
He forgot Rishabh Pant?
— NIHAR (@NIHAR17284962) January 1, 2024
