‘I know Jadeja reads all of this stuff, so I can’t really share all my secrets…’ – Nathan Lyon, while dubbing Ashwin the ultimate ‘Conqueror’

Lyon has maximized his overspin on bouncy tracks, Fox noted, though Ashwin boasts relentless lengths, with a trademark carrom ball that bamboozles the Aussie press, not to mention Marnus Labuschagne, no end.

Lauding Ashwin and Jadeja for helping India assert dominance in the Border Gavaskar Trophy since 2014, Lyon’s generous praise has numbers backing it. Sample these Test bowling averages for touring spinners in Australia since 2014, put out by Fox Cricket. India – 36.70; England – 64.60; New Zealand – 71.94; Pakistan – 84.45; West Indies – 85.76; South Africa – 97.00; Sri Lanka – 116.33.

Australia has been a grave for spinning careers: Graeme Swann retired after smacking of 2013 Perth, Mooen Ali averaged 115.00 in the Ashes of 2017/18, Pakistan leg-spinner Yasir Shah has conceded more than 150 runs in an innings on four occasions, while Mason Crane, Scott Borthwick and Karn Sharma never played Test cricket again after their forgettable debuts in Australia, wrote Fox Cricket.

But Indian spinners have learnt to tame Australia’s counterattacking middle order or the pace-friendly decks, with the Indian duo collectively taking 44 wickets at 31.45 with an economy rate of 2.67 in Australia. “During that same period, spin bowlers from other nations averaged 78.81 with an economy rate of 3.99,” reported Fox, adding that while “Ashwin relies on drift and flight to deceive his opposition through the air, Jadeja subtly manipulates the release angle by varying his arm height and crease position.”

“Ash is an incredible bowler,” Lyon told Fox Cricket. “I’ve gone head-to-head with him for basically my whole career, so I’ve learned a lot from Ash. He’s an incredibly smart bowler, and he’s able to learn and adapt very quickly, and I think the best bowlers in the world are able to do that. He used his skill to benefit himself and his team. So you’ve got to give credit where credit’s due, he was the best bowler (in 2020/21), as he usually is. So hats off to Ash.”

Lyon also credited the Indian, who turned 38, for educating him. “He’s taught me a lot,” Lyon said. “I’m a big believer in the players that you play against are your best coaches that you eventually come across. I’ve watched a lot of his footage heading over to India, the way he goes about it here in Australia, see if I can pick up anything.”

He paid Ashwin the ultimate compliment calling him the Conqueror. “The way I look at cricket is that I’ve never met anyone who has conquered the game, never played against or with anyone who’s conquered the game. There’s so much to learn in this great game. He’s a world-class bowler. He’s taken over 500 Test match wickets, and he should be extremely proud of that.”