Nathan Lyon vs Ravi Ashwin: Who is the world's best off-spinner?

The Opposition Batsmen

Lyon has to work harder to get wickets in India-Australia Tests due to good players like Kohli & Pujara

While Ashwin has a slight lead over Lyon in terms of bowling averages and strike-rates in Indian conditions, the kind of opposition the two batsmen are bowling to also has to be remembered. When the two play in India, he encounters players who are completely inept at playing spin while Lyon has to bowl at the likes of Kohli, Pujara and Rahane who play spin very fluently. This means that the Aussie bowler is at a great disadvantage compared to his Indian rival. Still, if he has managed to attain a strike-rate that is just one delivery more than Ashwin, it is a remarkable achievement.

This disparity doesn’t affect Lyon only in India but in all Asian countries. Whether it is playing in UAE against Pakistan or against Sri Lanka in their backyard, Lyon is always bowling to batsmen who are much more used to spin bowling than his own teammates. This is why he doesn’t generate as stunning figures as the Asian tweakers at home. Yet, his performance in Asia hasn’t been bad. Additionally, unlike Lyon, Ashwin hasn’t bowled to the two best batting sides of Asia – Pakistan and India. This too has benefitted his record in this continent compared to Lyon.

This is another factor that has to be considered when comparing the two leading offies of the world. Here too, Lyon seems to make a case for being considered as not an inferior bowler to his Indian rival.