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

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.

The previous time, Australia had bowled out India cheaply and then failed to take advantage by posting a lead of 87. This time, Australia bowled out India cheaply then failed to take advantage by posting a lead of 88. Last time, Australia ended the fourth innings with a collapse of six wickets for 11 runs scored. This time they ended the second innings with a collapse of six for 11.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.This time, though, Lyon got him out twice. In 2017 the spinner took his wickets in the first innings but picked up none in the third. In 2023 he had already contributed with three wickets in the first dig, before collecting his big bag second time around. Instead of Pujara making 92, he was held at leg slip for 59. Instead of helping add 197 runs, he helped add 140. Instead of two other players sneaking past 50, the next best score was 26. It all combined to leave