Nathan Lyon proving to be Australia’s linchpin in India | Geoff Lemon
took eight for 50; his best figures in a Test innings. He dismissed India’s key players at their peaks: Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane. He toiled for more than 22 overs, and later a further 33. He put his teammates into a dominant position with a modest target to chase. Then he watched them lose.
Last time, India rallied in the third innings as Pujara batted for hours and made a half-century while guiding them to a lead. This time, Pujara batted most of the overs and moved to his 50 after helping to wipe off the deficit. Barring disaster, the upcoming third day should offer Lyon vindication. Meme-able nicknames aside, he is underestimated. He is an unglamorous man practising an unglamorous craft, however skilfully. His record doesn’t feature a savage bowling average in the 20s, but a statistical anomaly of consistency, hovering around the low 30s in every category of theatre or opponent. He has never been a devastator, he grinds away instead.
One thing held against Lyon is that he has never carried his team to win a match in India. Australia’s only success during his three tours came at Pune in 2017, when Steve O’Keefe took 12 for 70. Lyon’s performance the following week was lost in bad batting. In the peculiar way of sporting memory, great feats can vanish if other players fail to make the most of them. After two days of the ongoing Indore Test, Lyon’s eight for 64 hangs in the balance.
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