Australian spin star Nathan Lyon says there’s a noticeable change to the once ‘reckless’ Bazball

Test cricket's most successful off-spinner has fired the first Ashes salvo, declaring England's famous Bazball strategy has transformed into an Australian copycat.

Australian spin star Nathan Lyon says England is transforming its once “totally reckless” Bazball approach to mirror the win-orientated Aussies and are now playing a style they have championed for the past decade.

Lyon has often downplayed England’s touted ultra-aggressive style under coach Brendon McCullum and repeated his analysis on Tuesday.

England leads what has become a feisty series against India 2-1 heading into the final Test this week before it prepares for the upcoming Ashes in Australia with players including the world’s No.1 batter, Harry Brook, declaring his team has been “too nice” in the past.

Lyon, a self-labelled “cricket nuffy”, says he is watching the heated series with keen interest and is noticing a shift in the English way with winning now above entertainment in their goals.

“I think they’re just doing what we’ve been doing for the last 10 years, playing a positive brand of cricket (and) trying to win games of cricket,” Lyon said.

“I think Bazball has honestly changed a little bit, they’re now thinking about ways of how to win games, not being totally reckless.

There have been several flashpoints in England’s series against India. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

“The conditions over here, it’s always been a great competition between bat and ball … it’s going to be challenging for their batters, challenging for our batters.

“At the end of the day and you want to see competition between bat and ball, I think that’s crucial … all the fans, that’s what they want to see as well.”

Lyon was dropped for the first time in over a decade ahead of the final Test in the West Indies for eventual hat-trick taker Scott Boland.

But the off-spinner isn’t expecting to be carrying the drinks come the first Test at Perth Stadium later this year.

Lyon says he is already studying the English and how he can navigate their aggressive style.

“I totally expect them to come out and attack me, I think every touring team comes and says they’re going to attack the spinner,” he said.

Nathan Lyon celebrates an Ashes wicket back in 2023 (Photo by Ian Kington / AFP)

“I am pretty used to that now, I’ve got no dramas with guys trying to attack me, it brings me into the game (and) I’m looking forward to that.

“I’ve got some plans and am already writing down a few things I want to try and put in play and working on.

“That’s exciting, that’s why you want to play against the best players in the game and they’ve got some of the best batters at the moment playing in their side.

“It’s going to be a good challenge we should all be very excited about.”

Cricket Australia confirmed on Tuesday that England would take on a PMs XI in a pink-ball contest in Canberra in the lead-up to the second Test at the Gabba, which will be a day-night affair.

Originally published as Australian spin star Nathan Lyon says there’s a noticeable change to the once ‘reckless’ Bazball