Monty Panesar picks the best spinner: Ravichandran Ashwin or Nathan Lyon?

The old one In England a cricketer Monty Panesarknown for his prowess as a bowler, recently weighed in on one of cricket’s longest-running debates: who is the best batsman Nathan Lyon and Ravichandran Ashwin? Both bowlers rank among the highest wicket-takers in Test history, with Lyon sitting seventh in the all-time list with 530 wickets in 129 Tests and Ashwin close behind with 522 wickets in just 101 matches. Both spin wizards will soon be seen in action Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT).

Monty Panesar settles the debate: Ravichandran Ashwin vs Nathan Lyon

In Panesar’s assessment, Lyon holds a slight edge over Ashwin due to his impressive performances on Australian soil as it is famous for its fast, punchy pitches that offer little help to spinners. Despite these challenging conditions, Lyon has consistently dominated the team’s batsmen, making him a powerful weapon in Australia’s bowling arsenal. His ability to thrive in a country where spinners often struggle underlines his ability and resilience.

“I think I see Nathan Lyon from my point of view. Yes, he is a better footballer,” Panesar was quoted as saying by NDTV Sports.

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A batsman’s nightmare

However, Panesar also admitted that Ashwin is more dominant in Asian conditions, where the pitches are better for rotation. With his deep understanding of how to extract spin and bounce from sub-continental pitches, Ashwin has been a nightmare for batsmen in India and across the region. Panesar emphasized that Ashwin’s all-round skills, especially his contributions with the bat, have also raised his level. As a bowler who can think like a batsman, Ashwin’s mental acuity allows him to take out the opposition bowlers with incredible consistency.

“But I think Ashwin is the better bowler in India. I think he thinks like a batsman when he bowls. He can pick out weaknesses and exploit them, and that’s his biggest advantage. He hits really well when he bowls; you know what the hitters are thinking,” Panesar concluded.

The beauty of cricket on full display

This is Ashwin’s place the splendor was on full display in the first Test of the two-match series against them Bangladesh at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. At 38, Ashwin continues to defy age, delivering world-class performances with both bat and ball. All his efforts in the game earned him the man of the match award, along with a century and a match-defining six-wicket haul.

In a difficult situation during India’s first innings, Ashwin played a crucial role by hitting 113 off 133 balls, lifting India to critical ground. The home crowd saw Ashwin at his best as he guided his team to an impressive total. Later, as the pitch began to give help to the spinners, Ashwin ran through the Bangladeshi batting style, claiming six wickets for 88 runs in 21 overs. His spell, full of guile and control, helped India register a 280-run victory, proving yet again why he is one of the best bowlers in world cricket.

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