‘Lyon best spinner in the world’

In-form Australia star Nathan Lyon has been labelled the world’s best spin bowler by coach John Davison heading into the third Ashes Test.

Lyon has left England in a spin following the opening two Ashes Tests, his 11 wickets helping Australia take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.

The 30-year-old finished with figures of 6-105 in the day-night Adelaide Test on Wednesday, including four wickets in the first innings as Australia defeated England by 120 runs.

Spin mentor Davison heaped praise on Lyon, who has claimed 57 Test wickets in 2017.

“We’ve spoken a lot about developing a ball that hits the stumps, particularly to lefthanders,” Davison told reporters in Perth on Friday.

“He bowled a lot more of it in the Adelaide Test.

“He can just keep getting better and better, particularly now that he’s got such good control of his stock ball which is so effective.

“He’s the best spin bowler in the world ... he’s got three subcontinent spinners above him in the world rankings but they’re playing over 50 per cent of their matches in spin-friendly conditions.”

The third Test gets underway in Perth on December 14, with Australia fast bowlers Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins set to flourish in the pace-friendly conditions but Davison has no doubt Lyon will be one of the first picked.

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