Nathan Lyon is a good solid performer for the Australian cricket team.
For the most part he is able to at least tie up an end for Michael Clarke, and seems good for a wicket or two while his ever-rotated pace counterparts do the majority of the damage up the other end,
However, wouldn’t it be nice for ‘Pup’ to be able to throw Lyon the ball 25 overs into the second innings and have the belief that the teams tweaker will do the job that he is in the team to do – take four, five or six second innings wickets?
In only four Tests has Lyon taken more wickets in the second innings than in the first.
First innings wickets are of course invaluable, however on dry and deteriorating pitches, such as last week’s wicket at the SCG, Australia needs Lyon to take much more than his 1-66 at the expense of over four an over.
Nathan Lyon seems far and away Australia’s best slow bowling option but he may never be a match winner.
He needs to evolve into the go-to man for the second innings of Test matches. Australia can only rely on lion-hearted efforts from Peter Siddle for so long.
Bearfax
Guest
Nathan Lyon is solid without being great. He's also young so he's still learning. Hard to follow the Warne-McGill acts. But who else is there. There's a young kid coming through from the junior world cup win. But he's at least two or three years off yet. Get used to it. Lyon does his job as well as anyone else we've got at the moment. When some one else better comes along, then grumble. Otherwise drop the subject.
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
The funny thing is sittingbison, is that approach may just be what will bring Nathan Lyon success in India. In England's recent series, both Swann and Panesar both bowled about five kms faster than Ashwin, Ojha and Harbhajan, while also imparting more side spin. There's no doubt that along with India's inability to produce new world class spinners, they have somewhat dropped off in their ability to play quality spin bowling as well. Nathan Lyon's best bet is bowl generally more defensively with attacking fields and dry up runs. The ego of the Indian batsmen to try and dominate him is something that can play in Lyon's favour.
sittingbison
Guest
He really needs some mentoring from someone like Rowdy, not Clarke and Arthur. He has lost his loop flight drift and dare I say it spin because he is now bowling high 80s low 90s which is 10kmh too fast. Contrast this to Herath, who looked infinitely more threatening and dangerous having all out batsmen including Clarke wary and struggling. Slow it down and give it some flight, stop throwing (scuze the implication) darts. And take your time between deliveries, no need to rush. Play with the batsmans mind, look like you are out witting them - one of Warnies great strengths was mind games.
Disco
Roar Guru
'the people’s champion' What does this mean?
DingoGray
Roar Guru
Getting sick and tired of reading about how Nathan Lyon is not performing at a required level for a spinner. Nathan Lyon is the people's champion and deserves a bit of respite from this constant badgering about his output. My question to all the naysayers who are saying he's not doing his job.....Tell us someone in Australian Cricket who's going to do a better job? He clearly the best of his craft so everyone should lay off him! Clearly Michael Hussey handing him the rains as the song leader shows the esteem of which he is held by his fellow Australian Cricketers. Time for the Australia supporters to get on board as well!
Cameron
Guest
I agree with you on both points, Red Kev.
Red Kev
Guest
I didn't advocate not having a spinner. I said that expecting the spinner to win the match in the last innings - which is what everyone is criticising Lyon for is fallacious. Learn to read WW.
WW
Guest
yes Graeme Swanns 212 wickets from 50 tests at an average of 29.13 is not part of the reason they rose to no1. nor is the fact that his stats read better than any of their current seamers including jimmy anderson who takes less wickets per test at a higher average! advocating not having a spinner is absolute madness!
Red Kev
Guest
There was a good post yesterday explaining that the dogmatic belief that a spinner should be able to clean up any second innings is fallacious and uniquely Australia. The two teams that are ahead of us in England and South Africa look to their pacemen far more often as the key bowler. Australia needs to move past the Warne-Paradigm of a fourth innings five-for winning matches.
Robert
Guest
South Africa seem to be going ok,and there spinners are worse than Hauritz(that says alot).The continual bashing of Lyon because he is no Warne has got to stop.He is the best spinner in Australia,and while we have a multitude of top class fast bowlers we need a spinner like Lyon to do a containing job -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download it now [http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/the-roar/id327174726?mt=8].