Australia’s decision to play two spinners for the first time in a home Test in 10 years is already paying dividends after the first day of the Third Test against West Indies at the SCG.
Offspinner Nathan Lyon was brought on by Australia captain Steve Smith in just the eighth over on Sunday, on a wicket receptive to slow bowling as the SCG returned to its halcyon days as a spinners’ paradise.
Lyon was the pick of the home side’s bowlers, claiming 2-68 from 32 overs in the Windies’ stumps total of 6-207 from 75 overs on a rain-affected day.
His spin partner Stephen O’Keefe was in on the fun too, picking up 1-42 from his 14 overs.
“I think that’s a pretty good wicket. It’s good fun to bowl on for spinners,” Lyon said.
“It’s a big challenge for me, it’s spinning pretty big and it’s got decent bounce. So it’s a challenge for me to try and hit the stumps. I’m enjoying that right now.”
Lyon brought up 100 Test wickets in Australia with the wicket of Kraigg Brathwaite for 85 in the final session.
Brathwaite said he was surprised by the amount of turn on the opening day but praised the SCG wicket.
“It is a good batting pitch I think, it is taking some spin,” he said.
“I think the spinners bowled well, it is just about trusting your defence and backing your shots and you can score.”
It is the first time in a decade Australia has played two spinners in a home Test, when Shane Warne and Stuart MacGill played in the win over South Africa at the SCG in 2006.
Craig Swanson
Guest
CA made sure spinners would profit on this pitch by shaving off the healthy crop of green grass the day before the match. Would be a shame to give the quicks some assistance, given that we have a tough little test series next month on bowling friendly decks in NZ. NO give the spinners practice first as there is a tour to the sub continent in eight months time. How did these people get to be the custodians of Australian cricket?