India vs Australia 2014-15: Nathan Lyon can take heart from Moeen Ali’s success against India

During India’s tour to England earlier this year, Moeen Ali’s innocuous off-spin troubled India through the Test series. Nathan Lyon, Australia’s premier off-spinner has been through a lean run off-late and would take heart from Moeen’s success against India. India have to put pressure on Lyon, but need to also give him the respect he deserves, writes Nishad Pai Vaidya.

In his last five Tests, Nathan Lyon has taken only 11 wickets at an average of 66.72. Australia’s leading spinner has struggled in 2014 with away tours to South Africa and the United Arab Emirates. While he had to deal with tough conditions in South Africa, he ran into rampant Pakistani batsmen in the UAE. The pressure on him intensified in the lead-up to the series against India, with calls to play four seamers in the first Test scheduled in Brisbane. Now, he finds himself playing the first Test with a change of venue against a familiar opposition.

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Lyon hasn’t been overwhelmingly successful against India, but had a decent run the last time he played them. On helpful surfaces in the subcontinent, he finished with 15 wickets in three Tests. In Australia, he has taken only seven wickets in three Tests against India. The last time India and Australia played in Adelaide, Lyon got a four-for in the second innings as the hosts closed in on victory. But with his recent struggle, he has his work cut-out. Australia finally found a stable option in him post Shane Warne’s retirement, and it is up to him to hold on to that role.

It will be a challenging proposition against India, given the fact that their batsmen play the tweakers well. Given the three dangerous seamers in the Australian side, India would look to relieve the pressure when they come up against Lyon. He may be earmarked for some treatment by the Indian batsmen, who may want to break the shackles and release the pressure applied by Mitchell Johnson and company. Having said that, this tactic could well backfire on India.

During the tour to England, India were foxed by the innocuous off-spin of Moeen Ali. In the intent of going after him, they ended up giving him easy wickets. It wasn’t so much about Moeen getting them out, but more about the Indian’s falling into their own traps. India would have to temper their charge against Lyon, at the same time, they shouldn’t be overly defensive against the man. India have to be vary of the two extremes and instead find a middle path to domination.

India have to put pressure on Lyon and not allow him leeway. Instead of falling to their temptations, they need a clear-cut strategy while dealing with him. He could be their best opportunity to score off in the Test series, but he is a genuine off-spinner and a much more threatening adversary than Moeen. He has more tricks in his trade and has more experience on his side. Obviously, he wouldn’t want those freebies and would instead go for the Indian wickets. Nevertheless, he can take heart from Moeen’s success and go after the Indians this summer.

(Nishad Pai Vaidya is a Correspondent with CricketCountry and anchor for the site’s YouTube Channel. His Twitter handle is @nishad_45)