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Australia star spinner Nathan Lyon paid a heartfelt homage to his counterpart from India, legendary Ravichandran Ashwin on Wednesday, the day the Indian spin master announced his retirement from all international cricket competitions. Lyon expressed his admiration for Ashwin to be 'nothing but respect' and praised his skill set as 'amazing'. Ashwin told the media that Wednesday would be his final day of playing for India in all formats following the Brisbane Test, which finished in a tie. Ashwin, who is widely considered to be among the best off-spinners in Indian cricket history, distinguished himself while playing for the national squad. He played 106 Test matches, 116 One-Day Internationals, and 65 T20 Internationals, taking an incredible 765 wickets in all forms.
Nathan Lyon on Ashwin
"Nothing but respect (for Ashwin). Just the way Ash has conducted himself on and off the field for a number of years now, and his skill set is incredible. We've got different opinions on different things, there's no right or wrong. But to have those conversations with a bowler like Ashwin is amazing," Lyon said while speaking to Fox Cricket.
The Indian spinner spoke with Lyon for a long time earlier in the day. The two discussed different variations, different tactics and understanding what he was trying to do, according to Lyon.
"We are both very different. So our conversation this morning was brilliant and I hope we have more through the series and in the future as well," Lyon said.
In the third Border-Gavaskar Trophy encounter, Ashwin, who participated in the Adelaide Test, had to give way to Ravindra Jadeja. In the first three Test matches of the series, India employed three different spinners. In the first Test in Perth, the team management chose to deploy Washington Sundar.
"It's an interesting question. You've got someone sitting [on the bench] with 530-odd Test wickets and I'm walking to the ground, scratching my head, saying 'What are you doing?'. He's proven that he is one of the world's best spin bowlers to ever play the game," Lyon said when asked about this.
During the middle of the Test series between Australia and India, Ashwin announced his retirement. In the current Border-Gavaskar Trophy, he only participated in one Test match. Australia won the second Test at Adelaide by 10 wickets, and he was included in the playing XI. Ashwin scored seven and twenty-two runs in the game while taking just one wicket. Unquestionably one of the best off-spinners India has ever produced, Ashwin has played cricket for a long time. He took 765 wickets in all formats while playing for India in 106 Test matches, 116 ODIs, and 65 T20Is.
With a remarkable strike rate of 50.7 and an average of 24, Ashwin has taken 37 five-wicket hauls in Test matches. His accomplishments go well beyond these numbers. In addition to being the format's top wicket-taking off-spinner, Ashwin retires as the seventh-highest wicket-taker in Test history. Nathan Lyon is anticipated to break this record in the future, though.
"[It] more than surprises me (that Ashwin didn't play). That's the quality of Indian cricketers they have in that squad. You've got Ashwin with 530-odd wickets [536] and then Jadeja over 300 wickets [319]. It's pretty remarkable to see the quality of players sitting on the bench. It's a good headache to have," Lyon added.
