Shane Warne hopeful of R Ashwin and Nathan Lyon picking 1000 Test wickets

Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne are statistically the greatest spinners of all time. While the Sri Lankan spinner has taken 800 wickets in Test cricket, the Aussie leggie has picked 709 wickets in whites. Thus, both of them are the leading wicket-takers in the longest format of the game as well.

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As a matter of fact, James Anderson with 640 Test wickets, who is the third-highest wicket-taker in Tests, is in the final phase of his career, while Ravichandran Ashwin (430) and Nathan Lyon (415), however, do have a chance of coming close to Warne and Muralitharan's feats.

However, it is to be noted that they are in their 30s right now. Yet, Warne was hopeful of seeing the two active spinners breaking his and the Lankan bowler's tally. He also stated that the more spin bowling there is on display, the more interesting the sport gets.

Ashwin is getting better and better: Shane Warne

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"I hope both Ashwin and Lyon do (break Warne and Muralitharan's record), because the more we see quality spin bowlers bowling, it makes for more interesting cricket. I think when you watch a pace bowler bowl real fast and a batter trying to take them on and then you see a really good spinner and that battle between him and a spinner. And you see that battle evolve. If you can see those two things in Test cricket, I think it becomes more entertaining. So if we can have that, then I hope Ashwin takes 1000 Test wickets, Lyon takes 1000 Test wickets. That would be fantastic," said Shane Warne, as quoted by Hindustan Times.

The 52-year-old also mentioned that he's a big fan of the Indian off-spinner. He spoke about how Ashwin has significantly improved in the recent past. Further on, Warne also stated that the bowling all-rounder always tries to explore and experiment with different deliveries.

"Ashwin is getting better and better. He has been fantastic. A true test of any cricketer is how they go away from home. Over a long period of time when you go to different countries and see how you perform overseas and then you end up having a record – both home and overseas, it gives you an idea as to how far you've come as a player. I am a big fan of Ashwin, the way he bowls. I think he is always trying to develop and explore different deliveries," he added.