Lyon jibe won't distract Bashir in Ashes battle

ENGLAND SPINNER VOWS TO KEEP IMPROVING

- By DAVID CHARLESWORTH

SHOAIB Bashir is unfazed at Nathan Lyon’s lukewarm assessment of him, despite England’s first-choice spinner being an admirer of his Australian rival for many years.

With 562 wickets in 139 Tests, Lyon has been one of the standard bearers for his generation and is poised to be Australia’s frontline spinner for this winter's blockbuster Ashes against England.

The 37-year-old is well-known for stoking the pre-Ashes flames and suggested at a Cricket Australia function that Jack Leach is still England's best spinner, adding Bashir “has been OK”.

Bashir, currently recovering from surgery on the little finger of his left hand, was unmoved by the jibe, responding: “Everyone has their own opinions and that's fine.

“I just stick to what I believe and what the people around me believe. I don’t really look at that stuff.”

Bashir was far more complimentary towards Lyon as the 21-year-old added: “I've never crossed paths with him but I have been watching him since I was young.