England spinner Tom Hartley is set to play alongside Nathan Lyon for Lanchashire this year during the County Championship. The youngster is looking forward to picking the brains of the star Australian spinner during the stint.
Lyon is the fourth-highest wicket-taker among spinners in Test cricket behind Muttiah Muralitharan, Shane Warne and Anil Kumble. The off-spinner has excelled in different conditions all over the world and it is something that Hartley wants to replicate. The Ormskirk-born feels that playing alongside Lyon will help him improve his skillsets.
"He's someone I want to try to replicate. To be an international cricketer you have to able to perform in different conditions and Nathan is a guy that can really help me. I hope he's going to be fantastic for me and be a real game-changer. The type of bowler he is something I'm trying to work on. The way he operates in Australia on pretty flat wickets, there are times when English wickets are pretty similar. He's going to be great to learn off," said Hartley while speaking to the BBC.
Also Read: I'll never criticise our batters because they've been exceptional for a number of years now: Nathan Lyon
Coming to India has made me believe I can perform at this level: Tom Hartley
Hartley has been on a roll on his debut Test tour as he has been impressive in the ongoing five-match series between England and India. The left-arm spinner has picked up 20 wickets in four matches at an average of 33.45 and a strike rate of 63.50 and is the leading wicket-taker in the series. The 24-year-old said that coming to India has given him the belief that he is capable of doing well at the highest level.
"I'd not really played a whole lot of red-ball cricket, but coming here has made me believe that I do have a talent for this and I can perform at this level. When I go out on the field I'm really trying, believing and thinking that I can do well. It's not just a case of bowling and hoping the batter chips one up, or trying to go at two or three an over. It's been a complete change of mindset," said Hartley.
India have already taken an unassailable 3-1 lead in the series. The fifth and final Test match begins on Thursday, March 7, in Dharamsala.
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