Former Australian cricketer Geoff Lawson shared an intriguing perspective on Ravichandran Ashwin‘s retirement during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series last month. Lawson suggested that the lack of spin-friendly pitches made Ashwin realize he wouldn’t be able to have much impact on the games.
Ashwin’s sole appearance in the series was in the pink-ball Test in Adelaide, where he took just one wicket. After being dropped for the subsequent Test at the Gabba, the 38-year-old announced his retirement, surprising the cricket world. In his column for The Sydney Morning Herald, Lawson noted that the India-Australia series was not a “classic” and explained his reasoning.
“Cricket purists recognized the unique tension created by low-scoring but closely contested matches, yet would not classify this series as a ‘classic.’ There was barely a hint of spin at the SCG. Ravi Ashwin saw the signs and decided to retire. Ravindra Jadeja’s brilliance was stifled. Nathan Lyon only managed a single wicket, adding to his tally of 538, and that came on the first day.”
“The current Australian team has boasted one of the most stable bowling attacks in recent years: Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazelwood, Lyon, and, when needed, players like Boland step in due to injury. Lyon’s remarkable 134 Test matches are a testament to his physical endurance and considerable skill as an orthodox finger spinner, delivering simple off-spin with flight, dip, and revs, alongside a tactical acumen that often goes underappreciated.”
In the same article, Geoff Lawson highlighted the resilience of Australia’s bowling attack and Nathan Lyon’s consistent performance, which has complemented the pacers effectively. The 67-year-old cricketer believes Lyon deserves more recognition for his skills, writing:
The Australian team reclaimed the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time in 10 years with a 3-1 series win.