Australia’s veteran spinner Nathan Lyon picked the best batters that he has played against in his decade-long Test career and also revealed the secrets to getting those players out. Australia is set to play the Sydney Pink Test match against Pakistan on January 3 and the team will be eyeing a complete series sweep over the visitors. David Warner will be playing his last Test match for Australia on his home deck.

Lyon, who made a comeback for Australia in red-ball cricket in the ongoing 3-Test series, spoke on Sydney Cricket Ground’s social media handle and called Virat Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar and AB de Villiers the best players he played against. Lyon was asked to name one player, but the spinner reckoned that he has played against many greats of the game, and he chose to name three players.

“The best player I have played against, that’s a very hard question. I have played against some of the greats of the game. I will give you three (names), they will be Virat Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar and AB de Villiers,” Lyon said.

Lyon also revealed the secret to dismissing these batsmen by challenging their defence for a long period.

“The secret to get them out, something that I struggle to do would be trying to challenge their defence for a long period of time,” Lyon said.

The off-spinner dismissed Kohli on 7 occasions in 23 Test matches played between India and Australia. Lyon managed to dismiss the great Sachin Tendulkar 4 times in 6 Test matches between 2011 and 2013. The 37-year-old boasts of a great record against India in Tests as he picked up 121 wickets in 27 Test matches. His career-best figures of 8/50 also came against India in Bengaluru. Meanwhile, Lyon managed to dismiss AB de Villiers only 2 times on 12 occasions.

The off-spinner entered the elite 500 Test club in the 1st Test match of the 3-match series against Pakistan at Perth. He became only the fourth spinner to achieve this feat, after Muttiah Muralitharan, Shane Warne and Anil Kumble.

India will tour Australia by the end of year 2024 for the much-anticipated Border Gavaskar Trophy.