Australian veteran Nathan Lyon has seemingly kicked off the mind games ahead of the highly anticipated Ashes 2025-26 series against arch-rivals England. Lyon, renowned for his candid opinions and deep understanding of the game, recently picked his best available spin option for England, an act that could be perceived as an early psychological jab.
Lyon insights are particularly noteworthy as they come alongside a revealing private conversation he had with England’s legendary fast bowler, James Anderson, which unexpectedly sheds light on England’s strategic approach to unearthing and developing new spin talent with an eye on replicating Lyon’s own success.
Nathan Lyon picks best spin option for England for the Ashes 2025-26: “Still their best spinner”
Lyon, Australia’s veteran off-spinner, as per Fox Sports, firmly believes that Jack Leach is “still their best spinner” for England in Test cricket, despite Leach being overlooked for the current series against India. Lyon, known for his deep engagement with the sport, stated, “I say that off the back of watching County cricket. I’m a cricket nuffie, I keep my eye on a lot of cricket games.”
Nathan confidence in Leach stems from the latter’s recent form and proven reliability, highlighted by Leach being the County Championship’s leading wicket-taker among spinners with 39 scalps at 24.76, including a crucial six-wicket haul that led Somerset to victory just last week.
Lyon elaborated, “The times I’ve played against him, I feel like his skillset is incredibly strong,” He clarified that this was “just my opinion, that’s nothing against Bashir or Dawson or anyone like that, I just feel like Jack Leach is a high-class spinner,” This strong endorsement comes despite national selectors prioritizing Shoaib Bashir since early 2024, a decision Lyon subtly questions given Bashir’s high career economy rate of 3.78 in Tests and his current position behind Leach in Somerset’s pecking order within the County Championship.
Also READ: Ricky Ponting stuns with top-order picks for Australia’s Ashes 2025 squad vs England
James Anderson’s revelation and Lyon’s spin secrets
Beyond his assessment of England’s current spin options, Lyon revealed a significant private conversation he had with one of England’s greatest Test cricketers, James Anderson. Lyon disclosed, “I played with Jimmy Anderson at Lancashire last year and he basically said that (England) are picking Bashir to do what I do.” This candid admission from an Ashes rival clearly resonated with Lyon, who added, “I took a little bit of pride out of Jimmy respecting what I’ve been able to do throughout my career.”
This suggests England’s selectors are actively seeking to cultivate a spinner with a similar skillset and impact to Lyon, whose success on Australian pitches is unparalleled for a visiting spinner. While touring spinners have historically struggled in Australia, averaging 54 over the last 25 years, Lyon boasts an impressive 268 wickets at 31.08 in home conditions.
However, the 37-year-old was tight-lipped about the secrets to his success, particularly with another blockbuster Ashes campaign on the horizon. “It is a massive role, and it can be a massive challenge for people who haven’t done it in the past in these conditions,” Lyon explained, but firmly stated, “But I’m not going to let my secrets out.” He attributed some of his success to his teammates, noting, “Our guys know how to play spin really well in this country, and that’s what has helped me produce my skill to where it is at the moment,” The ultimate test for England’s spinners, Lyon concluded, will come when they face Australia on their home turf.
Also READ: Ian Chappell names key England players who could trouble Australia in the 2025-26 Ashes series
