Not every day, do we get to see an overseas spinner come to India to leave the batters bewildered in the sub-continent conditions. However, the Aussies’ star spinner Nathan Lyon has time and again proven himself to be a cut above. Do you remember Nathan Lyon’s 8/50 spell during the Border Gavaskar Series 2017 in Bengaluru? The 35-year-old came up with a similar show registering an 8/64 in the second innings of the third test in Indore.
With a fiery spell, the off-spinner added a flurry of records to his name, including becoming the highest wicket-taker (113) in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy surpassing Anil Kumble(112), in a list that consists of all Indians.
Greatest Australian off-spinner?
Arguably, one of the best spinners that have ever donned the Australian jersey, Nathan Lyon’s numbers speak for themselves. The most successful Aussie spinner after Shane Warne, Lyon is the only spinner to take 8-wicket hauls twice
Dismissing Shubman Gill early on, Lyon became the most successful spinner against India ahead of the Sri Lankan legend, Muttiah Muralitharan with a count of 113 wickets. And as if this would content the spin maestro, he sent Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, KS Bharat, Ravichandran Ashwin, Cheteshwar Pujara, and Umesh Yadav back to the pavilion to become the wicket-taker in BGT 2023.
Captain’s Comeback
When the Australian touched the ground back in 2017 to fight for the coveted Trophy on Indian soil, it was Steven Smith who led the troop, cut to 2023, after all the controversies and accidents, the world no.2 is back in his role as the Stand-in captain after flew back home.
And as an impressed Ravi Shastri believes, it could be a blessing in disguise for the visitors who are now inching closer to an unexpected win after putting in a much better batting show and Lyon’s brilliance in the third test.
“Whenever I have seen Smith captain the side, he’s been a different batter, a better batter. The responsibility of captaincy seems to bring that different kind of mindset,” said Ravi Shastri.