‘Lyon got him four times for 163 runs’ – Ricky Ponting slams Kevin Pietersen for his ‘zero variations’ remark on Nathan Lyon

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has hit back at Kevin Pietersen for his remarks on Nathan Lyon. Pietersen had criticized the England batters for not dominating Nathan Lyon, a spinner which he feels has zero variations.

“Can someone please smack Lyon? FFS! Off-spinner with zero variations and bowling on world cricket’s flattest road!” Pietersen tweeted

Ponting was not impressed by Kevin’s remarks and reminded him of the staggering numbers of Nathan Lyon, and also his own record against the spinners. “400 Test wickets, Kev. Lyon to Pietersen. Lyon got him four times for 163 runs and at the Adelaide Oval, the world‘s flattest cricket wicket, Kevin Pietersen, none for 14 off 23 balls with 15 dots and only one boundary. Come on, Kev.”

Lyon, who recently took his 400th Test wicket, is the third-highest wicket-taker for Australia in the format. “I wonder if Kev’s still watching. The GOAT’s just taken another one. This is high-class bowling, pushed him back. They left the field open on the off-side, inside edge back on the stumps. This is off-spin of the highest class,” Ponting said.

Meanwhile, England are staring at an inevitable defeat in the second Test. Australia have extended their lead to 422 at the time of writing and with more than five sessions to go, it will be a mammoth task for England to save this Test from here.