Australia spinner Nathan Lyon is better than England's Graeme Swann when he was the same age, according to his bowling mentor.

John Davison, who has overseen Lyon's rise to the Test team, suggested that his protege is still getting to know his game and could play at the highest level for up to 15 years.

WA Today quotes Davison as saying: "It's exciting to think he's in his mid-20s and has that many Tests under his belt.

"If you compared him to Graeme Swann at the same age, Swann was probably floundering in English county cricket."

Australia begin their quest to regain The Ashes in Brisbane on November 21.