Spin-bowling coach Davison says Lyon 'more advanced than Swann at same age'

Australian spin bowler Nathan Lyon's mentor has suggested that his protege is more advanced than England spinner Graeme Swann was at the same age.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, John Davison, the former South Australian spinner who etched his name into cricket folklore when he hit the fastest century in World Cup history for Canada, is the spin bowling coach at Cricket Australia's Centre of Excellence in Brisbane.

He has overseen the 25-year-old Lyon's rise through the ranks and is adamant the off-spinner from the NSW bush is still to blossom despite having already taken 85 wickets from 25 Tests, the report said.

Davison said that Lyon was developing big time and because he was only 25, he could play for another 15 years at the top level, adding that he was still getting to really know his game.

He added that Lyon had probably played as many Tests as first-class games and if he was compared to Graeme Swann at the same age, Swann was probably floundering in English county cricket.

Swann is on track to grasp his 250th Test wicket in Australia this summer but he was a late bloomer, despite making his international debut at 20, the report added.