“Nathan Lyon is the greatest Australian bowler to have played against India.” As I read those words in a text message I received from a friend, I was convinced this was more useless banter talking up the heroics of our latest Aussie cult hero.
But lo and behold this was pure statistical fact. The type of fact that goes into history books and cannot be disputed for the rest of time (at least until the record is broken). The type of fact that various sports trivia shows will be using for decades.
When listing bowlers by wickets taken against India – Nathan Lyon is king of the hill.
Prior to Saturday, when looking at the statistics of bowlers who have played in India-Australia Test series, the first seven positions (in order of wickets taken) were occupied by Indian players. The list was headed by champion leg-spinner Anil Kumble (111 wickets) followed by Harbajan Singh (95 wickets).
The highest Australian bowler on the list is now ‘Garry’ Lyon (fifth overall) but prior to yesterday’s brilliance, the most successful bowler was Brett Lee. Other greats such as Glenn McGrath (12th) and Shane Warne (16th) were lower than expected.
I was staggered by Warne’s poor record against India. He played 14 Tests and took 43 wickets at an average of 47.19. Contrast this with his record against England (195 wickets at 23.26) or even Sri Lanka (59 wickets at 25.54).
But is it enough to just examine a single parameter?
A deeper analysis requires a look at bowler averages (runs conceded/wickets), strike rates (number of balls bowled per wicket) and economy rates (runs conceded per over).
Richie Benaud’s record is simply outstanding. He played only eight Tests, taking 52 wickets at an excellent average of 18.38 (strike rate 56.79) with a miserly economy rate of 1.94.
This is where I suspected Lyon’s record wicket haul could be put under scrutiny. But to my surprise his average was 30.62 at a strike rate of 50.95 – numbers most spinners would be pleased with. His economy rate is on the higher end of the spectrum at 3.61.
Lyon’s resurgence is a great Australian sporting story. Following on from Warne was never going to be an easy task and he was often derided for his inconsistent and lacklustre performances; the best of a mediocre spinning group. But as he outlined in the post-stumps interview, he has continued to work very hard and is finally beginning to reap the fruits of his labour.
Nathan Lyon is Australia’s greatest ever bowler against India. A title that he is worthy of and one that holds up even when taking a deeper look at the statistics.
An acknowledgment to my friend Bill Fuller – whose ideas and useless banter formed the basis for this article. Statistics were taken HowStat.
Pope Paul VII
Guest
Lyon's 8/50 would have to be the best figures in loss too.
Armchair Expert
Guest
Lyon bowled OK in the 2nd innings but those "dropped catches" were half chances at best and it would of been a miracle if any of them were caught.
rock
Guest
Chris, could you answer this question, who was the better bowler - Warne or MacGill? Test records in the sixteen matches MacGill & Warne played together. Warne ……… 74 wickets at 29.6 MacGill …….. 82 wickets at 22.1
rock
Guest
People still have Warne in there mind, he was one of a kind in mostly non friendly spin conditions (hence his record in the sub continent not being great). For Lyon's average to be in the low 30's where he bowls the majority of his matches in pace conditions is a decent return (see other world class spinners woeful returns in Aust conditions), and he's only 29.
rock
Guest
He may have got none in the second innings, and has about 4 chances not taken (again). To say that he didn't bowl well in the second innings is rubbish, the amount of time he was causing trouble & beating the bat/getting the glove in that second innings was nearly as much as the first, but he didn't have the same luck where everything went to hand - that's cricket. It's like saying that Sharma didn't bowl well in the first innings because of his return, but anyone watching certainly knows that isn't true.
Red Kev
Roar Guru
O'Keefe suffers in my opinion from rushing through his overs. He gives no consideration to giving the quick at the other end a breather for an over. Nor does he use time and slight field movements or chats with the skipper/keeper to get in the batsman's head (Warne was a master of this). In short it is my opinion that he is not a thinking bowler. He has one delivery and relies on natural variation, he had to change that one delivery for India and it has worked, but his methodology has not changed.
Red Kev
Roar Guru
That's an indictment of the quality of spinners that Australia is producing not the quality of Nathan Lyon. There simply isn't anyone who can displace him as a spinner for the national side. He's an attacking spinner that does what he needs to do, chip in with wickets and provide our pace battery with a rest. It is only rarely he has to be the destroyer.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
And, of course, by that argument, he'll then have those results dismissed and never get the chance to play any matches for Australia where that's not going to be held over his head. In those conditions, more often than not, he's done a lot better than Lyon, whenever they've played together at State level he's almost always done better than Lyon, and he has a career first class average of 22 in a competition where conditions are much more in favour of pace bowlers than spinners and there really aren't any other spinners with career averages under 35.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
Lyon is very much benefiting from coming at a time when the selectors went from mowing through spinners in a hurry to being very reluctant to change spinners. This has resulted in him now having played more test matches than any other Australian spinner other than Shane Warne. Many, other Aussie spinners have records with superior averages and strike rates to Lyon, but never got the continued run in the side that Lyon has been given. He's bowled well at times, but has then had many matches where he's looked completely toothless, including many where the conditions should have suited and he needed to be stepping up at that time. In many ways he's guilty of what a number of other players have been criticised for over the years, often bowling reasonably poorly, but just when the selectors are seriously starting to consider his position he manages to do just enough to earn himself another set of matches to be mediocre in.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
He did then go on to get none-for in the second innings. He's had a few big hauls against India, but in between those few he's often looked quite toothless. For Lyon v India it really is a feast or famine sort of scenario!
Sammy
Guest
He took a wicket with his first ball in test Cricket – he was just a kid, a bit sheepish, a sacrificial lamb for the selectors, now considered a GOAT. Well, some of the Indians will have a beef with him for busting their chops. The steaks are high.
Darren L
Roar Rookie
Rob I think you have to consider that O'Keefe only plays for Australia on spin friendly decks (i.e. When we are playing two spinners). It could be that he would perform in conditions that aren't friendly (it's an alternate reality we won't know unless he is the sole spinner) but you have to at least accept that O'Keefe's performance have to be looked at through the lens of playing in favourable conditions.
Rob
Guest
Lyon seem to have a good game when the selectors are sharpening the axe with his name on it? Seriously the last 2 pitches have been heaven for any spinner.
Darren L
Roar Rookie
MrJ - I think the stats clearly support the premise. Lyon is our best performed bowler against India. There is no way around it.
Darren L
Roar Rookie
Bet they don't now.
The Bush
Roar Guru
But this is where longevity becomes interesting. Unless O'Keefe comprehensively out bowls Lyon this series, and at the moment it's hard to say that, he'll be around for at least another tour from India in Australia and he'll likely go to India one more time. This means he could play, including this tour, another 10 odd tests against India. It's quite likely he could have anywhere from 80 to 100 odd wickets against them. That'll take some beating...
MrJSquishy
Roar Pro
I gather this is at least a little bit tongue in cheek, but, the statistics are there. Lyon has taken the most wickets of any Australian against India. I'm not sure that directly converts to Lyon is the greatest Australian bowler to have played against India though. When you look at Lyons Test matches against India, he has 1/91, 1/89, 5/111, 4/244, 2/151, 9/165, 12/286, 5/138, 2/144, 4/233, 5/74 and 8/119 (so far at Bangalore). Only three times (out of 12 Tests) has he bowled at an average below 20. Glenn McGrath, on the other hand, got 51 wickets in 11 Tests (more than Lyon after 11 Tests) against India and bowled at an average below 20 on 5 occasions. And only twice would his average have been over 40 (I'm including the one Test he got 0/92), while Lyon averaged over 40 on 6 occasions in his 12 Tests. Lyon has done very well for an off-spinner, but, he is far from the best bowler we have had against India...
Adrian
Guest
Prior to and subsequent to Lyon's haul of 8/50, Lyon was considered by India as hopeless, as a bowler who they had the number of. Glenn McGrath was, realistically, a much better bowler to India.
ak
Roar Guru
Lyon is a wonderful bowler. He is 29. Has the potential to reach 500 test wickets.