Nathan Lyon is someone I want to try to replicate: Tom Hartley

England's left-arm spinner Tom Hartley is set to play alongside Nathan Lyon for Lanchashire this year during the County Championship. The budding talent is eager to derive valuable insights from the veteran Australian spinner during their time together..

Lyon is the fourth-highest wicket-taker among spinners in Test cricket behind Muttiah Muralitharan, Shane Warne, and Anil Kumble, with the Australian currently sitting on 527 Test wickets. The off-spinner has excelled in several conditions all over the world and that is something that Hartley wants to replicate. The Ormskirk-born feels that playing alongside Lyon will help him improve his skills.

"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 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 the BBC.

Also Read: I'll never criticise our batters because they've been exceptional for a number of years now: Nathan Lyon

Coming to India has made me believe I can perform at this level: Tom Hartley

Hartley has been on a roll during his debut Test tour, showcasing impressive performances in the ongoing five-match Test series between India and England. The left-arm spinner has picked up 20 wickets in four matches at an average of 33.45 and a strike rate of 63.50 and is the leading wicket-taker of the series. The 24-year-old expressed that his experience in India has instilled in him the belief that he can perform well at the highest 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.

India have already taken an unassailable 3-1 lead in the series. The fifth and final Test match begins on Thursday, March 7, in Dharamshala.