Former Australian captain Ian Chappell said that R Ashwin is a better off-spinner than Nathan Lyon because of his better strike rate against the right-handers.
“I think Ashwin is a better bowler than Nathan Lyon. Have a look at Nathan Lyon’s strike rate, you are talking in the 70s and I am going back to 2018,” said Chappell.
Since 2018, Lyon picked up 113 wickets in 27 Test matches with a strike rate of 72.5 and at an average of 33.43.
Lyon’s strike rate (85.8) against India has been worse than his rate against others in this phase.
“I think runs get scored through the onside when he (Nathan Lyon) is bowling to the right-handers and that really just shouldn’t happen. Yes, he is a fine bowler but I think Ashwin is a better bowler,” Chappell said on espncricinfo.com.
“I think, particularly of late, I find that the Indian attack has been so strong that the wickets are being shared around more. And the other point I would make is because of Ashwin’s reputation I think the England players probably concentrated more on keeping Ashwin out and with Axar Patel, well, let’s be blunt about it, they didn’t have a bloody clue,” Ian Chappell added.
But Chappell said that the Indian bowling attack is all because of their complete bowling attack including the pace attack.
