Former Australia player Brad Hogg opened up on the comparisons and differences between the two best off-spinners in world cricket right now – Ravichandran Ashwin and Nathan Lyon. Both have been playing for almost a decade now, with the latter recently claimed 400 Test wickets as well.
Hogg has said that Lyon is more conventional with his approach, whereas Ashwin brings a lot more variations. While speaking on his YouTube channel, Brad Hogg said:
“Ashwin has got some other deliveries into his armory, which makes him more of an attacking option than Nathan Lyon. He has got the carrom ball, where he rolls his fingers down the seam. He also has got the carrom ball, where he flicks the seam with his middle finger. That’s the one that turns the other way. He has got more variations as well to bamboozle the batsmen.”
Ashwin is used as a wicket-taking option in India – Brad Hogg
The veteran has even bowled genuine leg-spin as a different variation many times as well and has found success with it too. Hogg, however, stated how despite being off-spinners, they play huge different roles to their respective teams.
Brad Hogg admitted that Ravichandran Ashwin is used as a wicket-taking option by India whereas Lyon plays a more subdued role in the team.
“Both players are slightly different in their roles within the team. Ashwin is used more as a wicket-taking option whereas Lyon usually holds up one end to bowl as many overs as he can to allow the fast bowlers in the Australian team to have a rest. That’s why opposition teams should go after Lyon, making the Australian captain go to his fast bowlers more often,” Brad Hogg concluded.
However, Lyon is currently playing in the Ashes series against England whereas R Ashwin will soon be seen in action against South Africa in the three-match Test series as well.
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