“Off-spinner with zero variations”, Kevin Pietersen’s contentious Nathan Lyon jibe attracts criticism from fans
Former England captain Kevin Pietersen made a controversial jibe at Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon, calling him a bowler with “zero variations” and someone whom batters should easily be able to smack.
Pietersen’s comments didn’t go down well with the fans over social media as they let the ex England batter know their displeasure at his remarks for one of Test cricket’s contemporary greats.
During the first Ashes Test in Brisbane, Nathan Lyon became only the third Australia bowler after legends like Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath enter the 400 Test wickets club. Lyon has now taken 406 Test wickets for Australia at an average of 31.98 – which, for a finger-spinner playing his ‘home’ Tests Down Under, is an incredible achievement.
Lyon is renowned for imparting great revolutions on the ball and extracting overspin on hard Australian pitches to make life difficult for opposition batters. It is in Lyon’s simplicity that his greatness lies.
But perhaps Pietersen failed to grasp this and made a controversial remark, indirectly referring to Nathan Lyon as a one-dimensional bowler, who should be easily taken away for runs by England batters.
Also Read: When Nathan Lyon’s Burnt Toast Led To Delay In A Sheffield Shield Game
Fans call out Kevin Pietersen after “zero variations” remark against Nathan Lyon.
Kevin Pietersen goes after Nathan Lyon; fans remind him off-spinner’s class
Kevin Pietersen’s remarks came in the middle of Day 3 of the second Test of the Ashes 2021-22. Even as Lyon put the breaks on England batters with the old Kookaburra ball and took three important wickets in a Test where Australia are missing their spearheads Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, Pietersen curiously found a way to criticise him and call him an easy bowler to get away.
Can SOMEONE please smack Lyon?!?!! FFS!
Off spinner with zero variations and bowling on world crickets flattest road!!!! #Ashes— Kevin Pietersen
(@KP24) December 18, 2021
Here is how the fans reacted to Kevin Pietersen’s comment:
Tweets that precede unfortunate events… never change KP
https://t.co/LKZqIRax0D
— Tim Miller (@timmiller_NAFC) December 18, 2021
Bloke has got to be snorting crack https://t.co/vVbdszA2e4
— Mosies Henriques Fan Club (@Clarkeyy23) December 18, 2021
Drift, dip, variable bounce isn’t variation? https://t.co/tapVfXA47B
— ∆
(@CaughtAtGully) December 18, 2021
This aged well.#ashes https://t.co/CiXPV4QZx6
— Scott Phillips (@TMFScottP) December 18, 2021
Can smell the burning here
https://t.co/Nfz5dsynBv
— SarKarthik PUNdirlaa (@KarthikPandirl1) December 18, 2021
Please someone smack English Batters first
— Prince Sharma (@PrinceS25556278) December 18, 2021
Tell us again KP how a bowler with no variation got you out? https://t.co/LKBqS6nMXk pic.twitter.com/XBbLoUoJvC
— K Hutch (@72nivek) December 18, 2021
Just the 400 Test wickets Kev https://t.co/giarTz73Fh
— Adelaide Oval Bryce
(@BLMBryce) December 18, 2021
Uh-oh. KP has bloody well cracked the code. 4-1 England #Ashes victory coming up, assuming Joe’s men aren’t too proud to listen and learn. https://t.co/jExyKzdm6o
— Dan Liebke (@LiebCricket) December 18, 2021
Lyon has taken 207 of his overall Test career wickets in Australia. His average of 32.68 at home is about 10 runs less than what is norm for fingerspinners in the country, which is remarkable.
During the first innings of the Adelaide Test, Lyon went past the tally of West Indies pace legend Curtley Ambrose and is now the 16th highest ever Test match wicket-taker in the game’s history. Among spinners, he stands seventh in the list.
