While Graeme Swann’s outstanding cricket career shuddered to a stop in this Ashes series, his Australian counterpart Nathan Lyon continues to be a quiet achiever.
It is no surprise that Lyon was lavish in his praise of Swann on Sunday after the English off-spinner announced his immediate retirement.
They are similar types of bowlers and the Australian tweaker has taken careful note of how Swann plays.
“He’s someone who I’ve looked up to a lot,” said Lyon on the Cricket Australia website.
“His career stats stand for themselves, he’s been an unbelievable spinner and someone who I watched pretty closely in my time.
Swann retired with 255 Test wickets and Australian coach Darren Lehmann said that is a worthy goal for Lyon.
“If Nathan Lyon takes 255, he would be pretty proud of himself I would think,” Lehmann said.
“Graeme has had a great career and contributed to England wins for a long period.
“Nathan can take heart from that – they’re obviously very traditional off-spinners.
“He has a good career in front of him, it’s up to him to grab it with both hands.”
While much of the focus has been on Australia’s pace attack in this series, Lyon has taken 10 wickets at an average of 31.40.
That is in stark contrast to Swann, whose seven wickets cost 80 apiece as the Australian batsmen targetted him.
Lyon now has played 28 Tests and taken 95 wickets at 33.04.
Lehmann said there is plenty of room for improvement, especially in terms of consistency.
“He bowled very well in Brisbane and very well in Perth,” Lehmann said.
“He struggled a bit in Adelaide and he admits that.
“We need him to be consistent each and every time he plays as someone like Graeme Swann did for a period of time.”
Swann also rates Lyon, but warns he will never have it easy bowling in England.
“He can go on and have a nice career for Australia,” Swann said.
“I’m not sure about in England, because England is the hardest place to bowl spin.
“Unfortunately, he’ll get smashed around when he played in England.
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