Nathan Lyon, for the last 18 months, has been Australia’s no.1 spinner. He has made a steady start to his career.
After 19 Tests, Lyon has 61 wickets at an average of 32. At 25 he has a long career ahead of him, however there are still critics and journalists out there who criticise him.
He has copped it for not being able to take wickets in the second innings of a Test match especially on spinner-friendly tracks, and also for bowling too fast and too straight.
But a lot of people forget the greatest leg spinner of all-time, Shane Keith Warne didn’t have the greatest start to his career either. He averaged 50 in his first eight Test matches until his average dropped down below 30 after the ’93 Ashes.
Obviously people will think I’m living in a different world comparing Lyon to Warne but like Warne, he can only get better.
And there is no greater place to do that than India which is always has spinner friendly pitches. Lyon will have the chance to permanently lock in a spot for the back-to-back Ashes series if he bowls well.
If Lyon can take 20 or more wickets in the four Test series, he will seriously establish himself and become Australia’s best spinner since Warne.
He will also do something that not even the great Warne could do. Usually India favours all types of spinners, but not Warne. He “only” took 42 wickets in India at an average of over 40.
For now, Lyon seems safe for probably the next couple of seasons as Australia don’t seem to have a second choice spinner who has performed convincingly at first-class level.
Since Warne’s retirement, there have been a dozen spinners tried and only two have been somewhat successful: Nathan Hauritz and Nathan Lyon.
A dislocated shoulder in the second ODI against England in 2011 at Hobart ended Hauritz’s career and although heavily criticised at times, he could consider himself one of the unluckiest Australian cricketers.
His record of 63 wickets at 34 was better than any spinner who had been tried since Warne. But now, he seems nowhere in the minds of selectors.
When Australia had Warne, they still had a second-choice spinner in Stuart MacGill. MacGill for most of his career lived in the shadow of Warne, but still managed to take 208 wickets at 29 with a best of 8/108 in 44 Tests.
He never was going to be better than Warne but always was chosen whenever Warne was injured or suspended. With Lyon looking to establish himself as the no.1 spinner, Australia need a second spinner in case Lyon does injure himself at any point.
Michael Beer was named alongside Lyon during the West Indies series as the second spinner and played in the second Test.
He picked up 2/56 in the first innings but never really looked threatening as Lyon took 5/68. In the two Test matches he has played, he has picked up three wickets at 60 with an appalling strike rate of 135.
The other choices include Stephen O’Keefe, Steve Smith, Jon Holland, Glenn Maxwell or even Xavier Doherty. With most of those candidates other than Holland being all-rounders, Doherty may be the one to go to.
In the two Tests Doherty has played, he has taken three wickets at 102 with a strike rate of 151. Since then he has been thrown out of Test contention.
But his short form stats are far more respectable with 45 wickets at 34 with a strike rate of 43. He may have to improve on his 44 average for Tasmania but if Doherty can finish the season strong both for Australia and Tasmania, he could earn a recall sometime in the next 12 months.
Both Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar did extremely well and both took over 20 wickets for the series. Nathan Lyon will need someone else to assist him when bowling as it seems unlikely he can rip through a top or middle order.
But if he has a second spinner to bowl in partnership with, he can devise a plan to get out a batsman.
The Indian series will be a huge test for Nathan Lyon’s ability and it will determine whether he is capable enough of becoming Australia’s no.1 spinner.
Joe
Guest
The Cricket Australia Rule makers should make picking a genuine spinner in all domestic competition games compulsory + a minimum allocation of overs required to be bowled by spinners. That is the only way to foster spinners in Australia. Our Australian pitches just are't conducive to spin bowling so full time spinners don't get picked. When they are picked they hardly bowl unless the pitch is crumbling. It is just so obvious the Australian batsmen have no clue against any half decent spinners because they never face quality spin.
Frankie Hughes
Guest
Sorry but how is Swann/Panesar taking wickets in India relevant to Lyon? India where terrible against England. A lot of very soft dismissals to two pretty ordinary spinners. Lyon hasn't a hope in hell of challenging India, he's not even grade standard. Get SOK in and play 4 seamers.
Jake
Guest
Because Hauritz took more wickets in less Tests. Pretty self explanatory really.
Praveen
Guest
I have to say that David Hussey hasnt fulfilled his opportunity in the Australian team and unfortunately at his age, he needs to be replaced and will be remembered as a wonderful domestic cricketer who just couldnt cut the mustard at international level. I would say David Hussey not being picked shows that selectors will either pick O Keefe or Smith as the spinning allrounders or go for Doherty as a spinner alone. I would omitted George Bailey from the Indian squad, although a good player, cant see him going on to great things as I do with Henriques and Khwaja. This would be my test team apart from Lyon to come in for Doherty and Siddle in for Starc who becomes 12th man.Warner, Watson, Hughes, Clarke, Khawaja, Henriques, Wade, Johnson, Pattinson, Starc, Doherty, Doolan(12th man),If Watson doesnt want to bowl then i wouldnt pick him in the test squad. Hughes to open with Warner,
Richard
Guest
So ripping out the top order in a crucial must win game for Australia isn't "doing much right" in your book!? We weren't defending a high total and that cruelled thier chase, they mounted a counter attack that looked threatening but they just didn't have the wickets in the shed. Glasses raised to Xavier I say. Perhaps Bailey knows how to get the best out of him, especially on their home ground
Richard
Guest
Sounds like it. Next time you are a major factor in winning a game for Australia your opinion might carry some weight, He is not in the team for his looks. Kerry O'keefe likes him a lot, not that necessarily means anything :) but he was a spin bowler for Australia
Arthur fonzarelli.
Guest
We have come this far with Lyon to drop him now would be folly . If he can acquit himself well in India and England it will be the making of him . There is just no other option at present .
aggregated drupe
Roar Pro
Just one problem Brian, you said that Doherty should go to India because of his one day form. This a test team not a one day team.
TheGenuineTailender
Roar Guru
Off breaks? More like straight breaks...
polly
Guest
Cheers, no slight on Lyon, just wondering about the whole microphones shoved in the face of Hussey & demanding an answer to what I thought would be a private issue for the team.
Calf Jocks
Roar Rookie
I think he's being coached to do that, when he first came on the scene the ball moved a lot and he flighted it a lot more. Someone mentioned to me earlier in the year they heard Clarke yelling "good pace Gary" so he's being told to bowl like that. For me that's a real worry.
Calf Jocks
Roar Rookie
I'm with TGT, the guy bowls off breaks not off spinners. I think the reason the dart thrower gets wickets is purely because batsmen get out trying to smash the cover off the ball, Chandimal's wicket was pure stupidity and Glen Mcgrath would have played it better than that. He hasn't done much wrong, but let's face it, he hasn't done much right either. It's got me buggered how he's still in there, must be a great bloke.
TheGenuineTailender
Roar Guru
Her footwork is akin to that of Michael Clarke. There's something about Xavier Doherty that I really just despise. It's probably got beyond the point of rational...
Josh
Guest
No Lyon was quoted as saying hussey had approached him at the start of the test or end of the previous one I can't remember but defiantly wasn't spur of the moment. I think Siddle suffered from the rotation policy as hussey would have wanted to hand it over to someone who would play every game so it couldn't be a fast bowler
polly
Guest
In addition to my comments above I would like to ask one question- did Hussey really pass on the honour/duty of the team victory song to Lyon or was it just a spur of the moment thing when asked in front of the media ? I thought the question was out of line & perhaps Hussey answered without thinking, I thought for sure he was going to say Peter Siddle, so I'm just wondering what others think/know about the whole situation ? cheers
polly
Guest
I'll admit I'm not a fan of Lyon but I hope he is given an extended chance to prove himself. Going to India is a great opportunity & I would hate to see him ejected in the manner of Krezja or Hauritz. Ok he's not Warne, but in my opinion it's about time we got over our luck with him & realise that it was just that, luck. We don't have an academy of spin that is churning out young spin bowlers of any type or we'd already have our next champion spinner in action. What we do have is a few players who may prove useful given a chance to show they are worthy of being in the Test team. At present that is Lyon, so give him time, as much help as possible & wait & see how he goes. As for a second spinner, although he opens the batting is Warner an option or would it be just too much work to expect him to bowl more than a few overs at a time ?
Richard
Guest
Funny comment! his burst against srilanka was a major factor in winning the game. They were cruising until he came on, are you saying your mother is better than Jayawardene at playing spin. To get the captain at that moment was sensational. Also his partnerships with Starc at the end of the innings have been extremely usfull. Clarkes team would have looked like even greater gooses if it hadn't been for them. Xavier is a competitive cricketer with the right attitude and he hasn't done much wrong this summer in the odi's against great players of spin bowling.
DavisCup229
Roar Rookie
I'm all for having Lyon in the squad. He can bowl well but he doesn't rip the ball. Not everyone does. His main aim is to bowl a tight line and length while controlling the flight. I wouldn't be surprised if he gets to 250 test wickets
Red Baron
Guest
Has the idea of having a compulsory spinner in our domestic comps that have to bowl a limited percentage of the total overs each innings ever been floated? Would really help develop our spinners a little more and put all teams on a level playing field. Plus I reckon it would make the games more exciting. Come on Spinner!!!!
Jason
Guest
Their career trajectories were going in opposite directions.