Published: Aug 02, 2015, 07:00 AM (IST)
Edited: Aug 02, 2015, 05:05 PM (IST)
He is the most successful Australian off-spinner witnessed in last few decades, and Nathan Lyon’s role has turned out to be more than crucial if Australia have to save their face in England. In the 133 years of Ashes history, only once a team has won the series after losing two Tests. If Michael Clarke’s men are to retain The Ashes 2015, they need more than an inspired show for the rest of the series. Lyon may not have received due credit for his bowling in The Ashes 2015, but Devarchit Varma strongly believes the off-spinner can actually rescue his side from yet another potential series defeat in England.
The Ashes 2015, first Test, Day 1. England had begun sedately and Adam Lyth was the only loss they had suffered early on to the new ball. To term that Cardiff pitch ‘docile’ would be an understatement — in hindsight it highlighted the English tepidness of not zeroing on a track they felt they could beat Australia on. Thirteen overs into the game, England had crawled to 42 for 1. Australia, seemingly dejected with the Sophia Gardens pitch, summoned their specialist spinner Nathan Lyon. Alastair Cook, confident of pitch being harmless, got excited at the sight of a slow bowler and tried to cut him for runs. The ball bounced, and turned not sharply, but enough to beat Cook’s assessment — and settled safely into Brad Haddin’s gloves, kissing the bat en route. READ: Steven Finn fifer ensures England advantage over Australia
Cook’s cheap dismissal on Day One of The Ashes felt truly like Australia drawing the first blood, and Lyon was the architect.
It is not surprising to see cricketing world marvelling over the feats of James Anderson and Mitchell Johnson, especially when conditions are meant for the fast bowlers to make merry. But it is certainly a matter of shame when one more in the bowling attack does as much hard work as the others and yet seldom gets the credit he deserves, more so as when Lyon remains ahead of his fast bowlers by taking a wicket in each of his initial overs in conditions that favoured the latter— and a performance that gave Australia some hope in the third Test after being shot out for 136. READ: Michael Clarke’s captaincy in Ashes 2015 lacks flexibility
The maturity Lyon has shown on the docile English wickets in the Ashes 2015 is remarkable. It is indeed a good sign for the Australians that they have a very potent, specialist spinner in their ranks unlike England, who depend on luck to keep favouring Moeen Ali. Despite being on the receiving end on most of the occasions in Ashes 2015, Lyon has maintained a smile on his face and bowled his heart out to keep Australia going. And this is exactly why he remains second on the list of bowlers with most wickets in Ashes 2015 from either side. READ: James Anderson shows pace and bounce is not the only way to take wickets
It is not merely about the number of wickets that Lyon has snaffled in this Ashes 2015. A few, like Cook’s in England’s first innings, have came his way due to sheer luck. But Lyon has bowled more attacking lines to the frail Englishmen against spin, and has thus reaped the benefits. From bowling round the wicket to right-handers Ian Bell and Joe Root, who in the past have guided the ball straight to men around them, to maintaining same line and angles to left-handers Cook and Adam Lyth, Lyon has looked far more aggressive than his pacemen. READ: Australia must select Shaun Marsh ahead of Adam Voges
And it is not just about the turn. Lyon has generated more bounce than some of his fast bowlers and has created all sorts of worries for the Englishmen. He has put men around the bat, has bowled on the batsman’s body, forced them to play and has aimed to take wickets. Thus, he has 12 scalps under his belt. Aiming to take wickets has helped Lyon more than merely bowling good lines, setting traps or getting them by luck. READ: Where have all the batsmen gone in The Ashes 2015?
With Anderson slated to miss the fourth Test at Trent Bridge, England will be forced to rethink the kind of pitch they want. Indeed, Australia would be itching to bounce back, and England cannot risk a track similar to the one at Edgbaston. In all likeliness, another batting-friendly wicket will be dished out. Australia will need their bowlers to get their ‘A’ game forward; they will need the disciplined, hungry and focussed Nathan Lyon more than ever.
(Devarchit Varma is a reporter with CricketCountry. He can be followed on Twitter @Devarchit)
