Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon has named former Pakistan captain Younis Khan as the toughest batter he bowled to, praising his mastery against spin. The revelation has surprised many fans, as Lyon overlooked several modern-era stars while highlighting the Pakistani great’s exceptional batting skills.
Lyon shared his views during a recent interview, where he was asked to identify the most challenging batter of his long international career. Instead of mentioning high-profile names from Australia, India, or England, the veteran spinner pointed towards Younis Khan, saying he remains underrated in such discussions.
Explaining his choice, Lyon said Younis Khan made life extremely difficult for spin bowlers with his fearless and calculated approach. He recalled how Younis regularly used his feet, stepped out of the crease with confidence, and relied heavily on sweep shots to disrupt bowling rhythm.
According to Lyon, this aggressive yet controlled method made it almost impossible to settle into a consistent line and length. He added that Younis’ ability to read spin early forced bowlers to constantly adjust their fields, often breaking any pressure they tried to build.
Younis Khan is widely regarded as one of Pakistan’s greatest Test batters in cricket history. He remains Pakistan’s highest run-scorer in Test cricket and is the only Pakistani player to score a triple century in the format.
Nathan Lyon, Australia’s most successful off-spinner in Test history, has enjoyed a long and distinguished career. His praise for Younis Khan underlines the respect the Pakistani legend commands among the world’s finest bowlers.
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