Nathan Lyon, the veteran Australia off-spinner who is strongly expected to play a decisive role in the forthcoming five-Test series of Border-Gavaskar series arrived with a significantly more “complete” range of bowling skills than India’s Ravichandran Ashwin, said former South African cricketer Paul Adams presenter infamous for his unusual action on Tuesday. Lyon, who has 530 Test wickets, and Ashwin, who has 536 scalps, are the two most dangerous spinners in the universe however Adams who was famous as one whose “frog in a blender” motion made him a superstar in action cricket carried, on whom the Australian was capable of causing problems to batters on any surface.
“ I still maintain that Nathan Lyon has a more rounded game when it comes to competing in the sub-experienced range than Ashwin for example competing in Australia or South Africa those types of conditions,” Said Adams whose Test appearances are 45 taking 134 dismissals in response to the invigilators query of who has a more rounded game to make it anywhere, Ashwin or Lyon.
““They (Ashwin) have a carrom ball which whenever bowled can turn in the opposite direction. But Lyon has been someone who has bowled with a lot of over-spin. And that is a challenge to the batters,” said Adams 47 years, during a virtual press conference organized by SA20.
In the Border-Gavaskar series to be played in Australia, key Indian pacer Mohammed Shami is not part of the travel squad and Adam’s believes that the services of eminent players such as Shami will be truly missed.
Adams stated: “I reckon Shami will be a huge miss for India considering the Australian conditions. I mean the Australian conditions that come with pace and bounce on the wickets would have benefited India else Shami would have been included in the team but it is out of the selectors concern for he is still recovering from an injury but still believe he will be a loss,” said Adams.
After injuring his ankle during the World Cup final back on November 19, 2023, and enduring a surgical procedure, Shami has been sidelined ever since when he went to undergo extensive rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru and now wants to put his fitness level to test in a real match.
The Cricket Association of Bengal confirmed that Shami will make his return to play over the Ranji Trophy match for Bengal against Madhya Pradesh in Indore beginning Wednesday, after almost a year.
Adams added that Shami’s absence will put more pressure on pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah.
“Controlling the Indian pace attack will be quite challenging with Shami’s absence. For the 2023 ODI World Cup, if people remember, he was the only member in the Indian pace attack, who could bowl pace and swing despite any conditions or pitches. It is going to be the vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah and the rest of the fast bowlers under pressure but I think it will be the all-Rounders in the team that will be the key for India, particularly Jadeja,” Adams said
There’s a lot to like about leg spinner Varun Chakravarthy, when playing in South African conditions, during this ongoing T20I series. According to Adams, the 33 year old’s control of what he does with the ball is impressive.
Chakravarthy played a crucial role at the T20I opening against South Africa, a match they won by a massive 61 run margin claiming 3 wickets. He played a second T20I against Proteas where India suffered an unfortunate defeat while Varun achieved a staggering 5/17 performance.
