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

(This is an opinion piece. The views expressed in the piece are author's own and does not reflect Sportskeeda's stand on the same.)

A casual look at the basic stats of the two bowlers would suggest that it is a no contest. Ravichandran Ashwin is a way better bowler than Nathan Lyon on paper. While the Indian offie has an astonishing record of 342 wickets from 65 Tests and the distinction of being fastest to the 300-wicket mark in Test cricket, Lyon has 3 less wickets in 19 more matches. The Australian off-spinner takes just over 63 balls to take a wicket while Ashwin requires a shade below 54. The average of 25.43 that he has, also compares favourably to Lyon’s 32.10.

So, what would be your reaction to the claim that Lyon is a better off-spinner than Ashwin? Is it even possible to conceive that it is Lyon and not the Indian tweaker who deserves to be considered the best offie in the world?

Well, as someone once said, there are lies, damn lies and then, there are stats. While statistics are not as misleading as this famous saying suggests, they should never be taken at their face value. To compare Ashwin and Lyon, we need to take into consideration the various other factors that affect their stats and not get carried away by simple numbers.

When we do take a closer look, it becomes evident that not only does Lyon have a good claim to being as good as Ashwin, he may even be considered better. You don’t believe this? Well, let’s present the reasons why Lyon should be regarded as a superior off-spinner than Ashwin.

Australian Conditions

Ashwin has struggled in making an impact on Australian pitches

No country is as difficult for offies to operate in as Australia. Look at the history of Australian cricket as well as cricket in Australia and you would clearly see that off-spinners have always had a torrid time there, except for the greatest ones.

Only the likes of Prasanna, Gibbs, Tayfield were able to tour Australia and make an impact while lesser off-spinners struggled. Even in modern times, bowlers such as Muralitharan and Harbhajan couldn’t make a mark. Saqlain Mushtaq and Graeme Swann also rarely had great figures down under.

For the same reasons, the pantheon of great Aussie spinners is dominated by leg-spinners. From Bill o'Reilly to Shane Warne, the country has produced great wrist spinners. Among off-spinners, Ashley Mallet, Bruce Yardley and Tim May became prominent and they too never reached the heights of success that leggies did.

The fact that Lyon has had such a great career while playing most of his cricket in these conditions should lead him to be considered as a great bowler. Ashwin, on the other hand, averages 48.07 compared to Lyon’s 33.31 in Australia and in terms of strike-rate, the Oz bowler leads with 66.9 compared to the Indian’s 94.7. These stats show that Lyon has successfully plied his trade in the most difficult conditions and come out trumps.

Since Ashwin has now played 7 Tests in Australia, it’s hard to make the case that he is still getting used to the conditions. Lyon clearly emerges the better bowler when seen in this light.

Ashwin’s Big Home Advantage

Under Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni's captaincy, Ashwin has got very dry pitches to bowl on in India

India has always been a great place for spinners. But Ravichandran Ashwin is even luckier than his spin-bowling predecessors regarding the conditions he plays in.

Around the time Ashwin made his debut, India suffered humiliating whitewashes in England and Australia. After these losses, then captain MS Dhoni decided that in order to save his captaincy and get some victories, he needs square turning wickets. Dry pitches and three spinners became the Indian method of securing wins at home.

Though the plan backfired in the home series against England in 2012 that India lost 1-2, Dhoni persisted with this strategy and so did his successor Virat Kohli.

So, Ashwin has played his cricket in an era where pitches in India have been dustbowls most of the time. These tracks have certainly played a role in boosting Ashwin’s record. Hence, his lead over Lyon in basic stats also has a lot to do with the conditions he has played most of his cricket in.

But how has Lyon fared in these conditions? While Ashwin has a strike-rate of 49.2 and average of 22.68 at home, the Aussie off-spinner’s comparative stats are 51.7 and 30.58 which are far from being as loaded in favour of Ashwin as the same stats are in favour of Lyon in Australia. This is another reason why one shouldn’t get carried away by the simple stats.

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.

Bowling Partners

Nathan Lyon usually has to play a supporting role to pacers in Australian conditions

One argument that has been made to project Ashwin’s superiority over Lyon is that while the former has to lead his team’s bowling attack at home, the latter has a whole battery of impressive pacers to assist him.

This argument suggests that Lyon gets many of his wickets because the visiting batsmen in Australia are so troubled by home team’s pacers that they look to attack Lyon when he comes on to bowl, thereby taking more chances and giving him more wickets.

This argument has some merit and certainly there have been series, like the 2013-14 Ashes, where Lyon was the weakest link in the bowling attack. But then, the same argument can be turned around in favor of Nathan Lyon as well.

Since he has very potent pace bowlers alongside him, he has to share wickets with them. These pacers also have conditions in their favor so they are likely to get more wickets leaving Lyon to pick up the scraps. Ashwin, on the other hand, has most of the wickets in the opposition ready to be picked by him. Yes, he does have Jadeja and, occasionally, a third spinner alongside him but they are not as prolific wicket-takers as Lyon’s bowling partners have been.

Here, too the facts do not suggest a clear advantage for Ashwin over Lyon.

Conclusion

With everything considered, Lyon emerges as the best off-spinner in the world currently

When we take into consideration all four points made above, it is clear that Lyon is, in no way, a lesser bowler compared to Ravi Ashwin. Yes, his numbers may not be as impressive as that of the Chennai-born tweaker, but even the likes of Rangana Herath and Yasir Shah have produced the kind of dazzling stats that Ashwin has in recent years, thanks to the advantages that Asian spinners enjoy these days.

Australia has clearly provided the litmus test for off-spinners through the history of the game. Only the best of the best from this category have come through a series in Australia with their reputation enhanced or even intact.

Therefore, Lyon’s success deserves much more plaudits than what has been accorded to him so far. Even if we take into consideration the fact that Lyon is more familiar with Australian conditions and has more opportunity to hone his skills, still his consistency and potency has defied historical precedents.

In his home country, he is already a cult figure and is even being called the GOAT (greatest of all time). That may be an overstatement but one that few would grudge him. It is about time that the rest of the world also considers the possibility that he is the best off-spinner of the present generation.