Lyon’s 8/64 helped Australia eliminate India for 163 in the second try, leaving just 76 to chase for the visitors for their first victory in the current competition. Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
The off-spinner spilled the wick on his success in test cricket which is quite different from other spinners. Most spinners don’t mind being taken to cleaners looking for wickets, but Lyon’s success lies in batters defending it for long.
The 35-year-old, playing his 118th Test and taking a staggering 479 wickets, spoke about his bowling mindset.
“It doesn’t matter what wicket I play at. If I can find someone to defend, I’m pretty happy. That’s the secret of my secret, trying to get guys to defend me for long stretches. That means I put the balls in the right areas.
“Having said that, I don’t mind if guys try to hit me. I got hit for the most sixes in Test history, so I’m not afraid of getting hit for a six. (smile). It’s a big challenge. but it doesn’t bother me anyway, but it’s harder to get the guys to defend,” said Lyon who relies on overspin to bother the players. hitters.
What was remarkable about his performance was that he took all his wickets around the wicket, which is considered a negative tactic by some.
“I know a lot of people see it as a negative. I see it totally the opposite. always get guys online.
“Yeah, it might be from time to time, but when you play that line, good hitters all over the world immediately come off the line. But when you go around the wicket with a big spin, it causes all the patterns of the return . ,” he explained.
In their effort on Thursday, Lyon looked pleased but said they wouldn’t have made much difference in Nagpur when they took just one wicket before taking seven in Delhi.
“To be honest, I was pretty happy with the way I played in Nagpur. I understand the quality of the cricketers we’re up against. I know the challenges against these guys, but I was pretty happy the way I played in Nagpur.
“I was pretty excited with Toddy Murphy (another officer) taking seven for. Nothing has changed for me. It’s about trusting my stock ball and getting the basics right. That’s what I say after every game.”
pujara is an amazing cricketer
Lyon always praise Pujara who tends to give his best against Australia. It was no different in the second inning as he hit full contract with the rest of the struggling batters. He scored 59 of 142 before being undone by a special take from Steve Smith in the leg slide before the stumps.
“I wouldn’t describe him as flashy or anything like that. But he’s an amazing cricketer. I have a lot of respect for the way he does it. Nothing bothers him, whether it’s rebounding at Gabba or turn to Indore He seems to find a way and a method.
“A lot of boys and girls can follow his batting path and learn from it. He doesn’t have reverse sweeps and shots like that, but one thing he has is incredible defense. In my eyes, Test cricket is built around defence, we saw his class again on quite a tough wicket,” he said.
Lyon has excelled all over the world, but expectations are higher when playing on rank turners in India.
How does he manage this?
“It’s been interesting. At the beginning of my career, I think I felt the weight of trying to win games in the last two legs.
“It was actually my dad who sat me down (in 2012) and said ‘look, if you do your part, one day you’ll be successful and one day you’ll… you’re capable of identify it and when it’s your moment, grab it and run it with both hands.
“My dad who really simplified me, I guess,” Lyon added.
(With PTI inputs)
