Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has slammed Kevin Pietersen for his recent remarks on Aussie spinner Nathan Lyon. The former England batsman criticised the veteran off-spinner, saying that he lacked variation.
Pietersen had asked the English batters to go after Lyon during the Day-Night Test of the Ashes. Incidentally, Lyon conceded only 58 runs in the first innings in Adelaide bowling 28 overs which included 11 maidens. He also picked up three wickets to add to his tally.
“Can someone please smack Lyon? FFS! Off-spinner with zero variations and bowling on world cricket’s flattest road!” Pietersen wrote on Twitter.
Can SOMEONE please smack Lyon?!?!! FFS!
Off spinner with zero variations and bowling on world crickets flattest road!!!! #Ashes— Kevin Pietersen🦏 (@KP24) December 18, 2021
The comments didn’t go down well with many former cricketers from the Australian contingent. Responding to Kevin Pietersen’s claims, Ponting stated Nathan Lyon has dismissed Pietersen on four ocassions in Test cricket.
“400 Test wickets, Kev. Lyon to Pietersen. Lyon got him four times for 163 runs and at the Adelaide Oval, the world‘s flattest cricket wicket, Kevin Pietersen, none for 14 off 23 balls with 15 dots and only one boundary. Come on, Kev,” Ponting said.
At a time when Nathan Lyon was bowling well in the Adelaide Test, Ricky Ponting heaped praises on him, calling him a ‘GOAT- Greatest of All Time’ for being at the top of his game. On the back of Lyon’s spell, the home team bowled the Three Lions out for 236.
The off-spinner also became the 17th bowler to pick up 400 wickets in Test cricket. Lyon is currently third in the list of all-time highest wicket-taker for the Aussies in the longest format.
“I wonder if Kev’s still watching. The GOAT’s just taken another one. This is high-class bowling, pushed him back. They left the field open on the off-side, inside edge back on the stumps. This is off-spin of the highest class,” Ricky Ponting said.
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