Nathan Lyon, the Australian off-spinner reaped the rewards for bowling wide off the crease and the angles he can create could be a “massive threat” for the Indian team throughout the ongoing four-Test series, feels former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting.
Nathan Lyon has so far picked 391 wickets in 97 tests including the ongoing Adelaide Test where he had figures of 1/68 from 21 overs picking up prized scalp of Cheteshwar Pujara.
Nathan Lyon Builds Pressure So Will Be A Massive Threat For Indians: Ricky Ponting
The 33-year-old Nathan Lyon had captured one for 68 from 21 overs on the first day of the opening Test.
“He’s had as much success as any spinner, I think, against India over the years. He’s got Virat Kohli out (in Tests) more than anybody in the history of the game, he looked like he troubled Pujara a lot today,” Ponting told cricket.com.au.
“The right-handers now that come out to bat against him – he gets so much over-spin on the ball when you’ve got fielders around the bat – they must feel like they’re going to get out every ball. He builds pressure, he bowls very few bad balls so he’ll be a massive threat for them,” said Ponting.
Nathan Lyon has picked 86 wickets which is his most against any country including 7 five-wicket hauls which stand again his most against any opponent. In Australia, he has 192 wickets.
Nathan Lyon Dismisses Cheteshwar Pujara And Nearly Gets Virat Kohli Dismissed In 1st Test
Nathan Lyon bowled from wider of the crease to trouble the Indian batsmen, especially Cheteshwar Pujara who was the leading run-scorer in the previous tour in 2018-19 scoring a staggering 521 runs in 4 Tests in India’s maiden Test series win in Australia 2-1.
“I think it’s more about trying to challenge both edges of the bat,” Ponting said. “When he creates the angle from wide and angles back in, that really only challenges the inside half of the bat and a glove whereas if he can get it out a little bit wider (off the crease), it brings the catch at slip in play.”
Ricky Ponting believes that small adjustments make a lot of difference.
“It brings a bat-pad off-side catch into play and if you get the extra bounce, like Pujara’s wicket, you can still get the wicket at leg slip as well. Small adjustments, we’re only talking four or six inches, but it has so much more effect.”
Cheteshwar Pujara claimed the off-spinner has vastly improved in the last 5 years while showering praise on the off-spinner after he lost his wicket to the Australian.
The Indian batsman was dismissed for 43 in the first innings of the Adelaide Test by Nathan Lyon. Nathan Lyon picked up Cheteshwar Pujara’s wicket for the 10th time in his career, which none has achieved in Test cricket. No one has dismissed the India No. 3 on more occasions than Nathan Lyon.
Nathan Lyon could also have claimed Virat Kohli as he was caught down the leg side by wicket-keeper skipper Tim Paine. However, the umpire deemed Kolhi to remain not out and Australia didn’t review the decision. Replays showed Virat Kohli’s glove made contact with Nathan Lyon’s sharply turning delivery.