Nathan Lyon proving to be Australia’s unglamorous linchpin in India

02.03.2023 - 22:25 theguardian.com

I n Bengaluru in 2017, Nathan Lyon 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.In Indore in 2023, Nathan Lyon took eight wickets for the second time. After a long day of off-spin bowling, the figures were a similar eight for 64.

This time he took them in the third innings of the match, not the first. Even so, like a fold in the fabric of space-time, echoes of 2017 kept coming through.

cricket Sporting bowling Nathan Lyon Australia India

Star India batter Virat Kohli was on top of his powers in the fourth Test against Australia, which ended in a stalemate on Monday. Kohli looked in his element during the entire high-scoring encounter and scored his 28th Test century. It was Kohli's first century in the format after a gap of more than three years. Kohli's marathon 186-run knock guided India to a massive 1st innings total of 571, and was named 'Man of the Match' for his efforts.

Nathan Lyon Creates History, Breaks 41-Year-Old Record Against India In 4th Test

India rode Virat Kohli's brilliant century and Axar Patel's equally effective supporting act to take control on Day 4 of the fourth Test match against Australia on Sunday. While the Indian batsmen looking quite comfortable against the Australia bowlers, veteran spinner Nathan Lyon was able to claim a massive milestone. With the dismissal of KS Bharat, Lyon became the highest overseas wicket-taker in Test matches on Indian soil. He currently has 55 wickets from 11 matches in India and he surpassed the record held by former England spinner Derek Underwood. Underwood had 54 wickets against India in away matches from 16 games with best figures of 5 for 84.

India vs Australia - "There's Still A Result": Nathan Lyon's Huge Prediction For Ahmedabad Test

Nathan Lyon may have got just a single wicket after sending down 30-odd overs on the day but he feels that his effort on Saturday during India's first innings was way better than his 11-wicket match haul in Indore on a track designed for spinners. India finished the third day at 289 for 3 in reply to Australia's 480 on a good batting deck. "It's more of a patient game. When the pitch is like Indore... I felt like I bowled better today than what I did in Indore. And it's just coming down to doing your basics well enough for long enough," Lyon said. For him, Tests like these are decided in the last half an hour and right now it is on even keel.

Watch: Virat Kohli's Intriguing Chat With Nathan Lyon Caught On Stump Mic, Video Goes Viral

Virat Kohli reached his first Test half-century since January 2022 during Day 3 of the ongoing fourth Test against Australia at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. On Saturday, Kohli hit an unbeaten 59 after Shubman Gill had scored his second Test ton to take India to 289/3 at stumps against Australia. However, Kohli had a nervy start to his innings as he got off the mark on the 12th ball, with Nathan Lyon putting constant pressure on him from one end.

Virat Kohli Surpasses Rahul Dravid, Sunil Gavaskar With Long-Awaited Fifty Against Australia

It was a good outing for Virat Kohli on Day 3 of the fourth Test match between India and Australia in Ahmedabad as the star batsman scored his first Test half-century in almost 14 months. The last time Kohli scored a fifty in the longest format of the game was back in January 2022 against South Africa. In the process, Kohli also became the fifth Indian cricketer to score 4000 runs at home after Sachin Tendulkar, Sunil Gavaskar, Rahul Dravid and Virender Sehwag. He was the third-fastest to reach the milestone after Sehwag and Tendulkar but became the one with the best average (58.82).

'Nathan Lyon Has Got Years To Go...': Australia Great On Star Spinner

Nathan Lyon's longevity in international cricket has been "amazing" and the off-spinner should continue as long as he remains fit to compete at the elite level, feels former Australia batter Mike Hussey. Lyon, 35, had a quiet start to Border-Gavaskar Trophy taking only one wicket in Nagpur but has come back with a bang snapping 18 scalps from next two Test matches, including a 10-for in Australia's win in Indore.