IND vs ENG 2024: He’s someone I want to try to replicate – Tom Hartley on playing with Nathan Lyon

England’s rookie spinner Tom Hartley is excited at the prospect of playing with Australia’s veteran spinner Nathan Lyon. Hartley, who has impressed in debut Test series against India, will play with Lyon for Lancashire in the County Championship.

The left-arm orthodox spinner has scalped 20 wickets in four Test matches against India at an average of 33.45 and he is the leading wicket-taker in the series.

Hartley had returned with impressive figures of 7-62 in the second innings of the opening Test at Hyderabad and played a key role in England’s 28-run win.

“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 BBC.

Hartley has certainly grown in confidence by performing well against India and feels he belongs at the top 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.

The youngster has also scored crucial runs while batting down the order as he has scored 159 runs in four matches against India at an average of 19.88.

The fifth and final Test match will be played at Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamsala from March 7.