Nathan Lyon praises Ravichandran Ashwin's role in career

Perth: Veteran Australian spinner Nathan Lyon stressed on the opportunity players have to learn from the opponents they play against ahead of the first Test against Pakistan.

Lyon, who is four wickets away from the coveted 500-wicket mark in Test cricket, hailed the influence of Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who he sees as an inspiration.

The off-spinner, who was named in Australia's playing XI for the first Test against Pakistan starting in Perth on Thursday after a return from the calf injury that cut short his Ashes, said that he had "nothing but respect for Ashwin".

"You look at Ashwin, he's a world-class bowler and somebody I've watched closely from the start of his career," Lyon said as revealed by cricket.com.au.

"We've gone head-to-head many times in different conditions around the world. I've definitely learned from him," he said.

"There's an opportunity to learn from the people you play against, and without knowing it he's probably been one of my biggest coaches in a way," Lyon said.

Ashwin and Lyon have had very similar career trajectories, and are both closing in on 500 Test scalps. While Lyon is on 496 wickets, Ashwin, who is touring with the Indian side in South Africa, is on 489.

"It's pretty amazing to see we're both creeping up to that 500 mark, and we'll see where we end up. Hopefully at the end of our career we'll sit down and have a nice feed and a beer and talk about it," Lyon said.

Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan are the only spinners with 500 or more Test wickets currently. Lyon will get a shot at the milestone this week and could become the third Australian after Glenn McGrath and Warne to get to the landmark. (UNI)