India-Australia Test series very similar to Ashes, the challenge is massive: Nathan Lyon

Premier off-spinner Nathan Lyon has talked up the challenge of Australia's tour of India later this year, saying the tourists will be full prepared, knowing a favourable result will propel them to the final of the World Test Championship in 2023.

For long, the Ashes has been considered as one of the greatest, if not the greatest, rivalries in world cricket. Every Australian cricketer dreams of wearing the Baggy Green and playing in the Ashes but off-spinner Nathan Lyon said he believes the 'Border-Gavaskar' series is becoming as important as Ashes to Australia cricketers.

Australia will tour India later this year for a Test series for the first time on Indian soil since 2017 and the 4-Test series, according to Nathan Lyon, assumes a lot of importance as Australia have given themselves a chance to reach the World Test Championship final after missing out on the last edition's title match by a whisker.

"It's massive. It's getting very similar to an Ashes series as the pinnacle series for an Australian cricketer," Lyon told Code Sports, as quoted by the ICC.

"This series with the Test Championship on the line as well it's going to be even more important and probably a bigger challenge.

"It's about doing the basics, not getting too far ahead of ourselves and enjoying the challenge - I think that's going to be the biggest one."

Australia are 1-0 up in the subcontinent challenge after a hard-fought 1-0 series victory in Pakistan last month. Playing in Pakistan for the first time in over 2 decades, Australia displayed grit and courage under Pat Cummins, winning the final Test in Lahore on pitches that were alien to Australian stars.

Australia are set to tour Sri Lanka next in their 'mission subcontinent' wherein they will be playing 2 Tests, 3 T20Is and 5 ODIs. Australia will then travel to India later in the year to play aa many as 4 Tests and 3 T20Is.