NEW DELHI: Hailing Nathan Lyon‘s longevity in international cricket, former Australia batsman Michael Hussey feels the off-spinner should continue as long as he remains fit to compete at the elite level.
After taking just one wicket in the first Test against India in Nagpur in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, Lyon snared 18 scalps from next two Tests, including a 10-for in Australia’s win in Indore.
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Will Australia square India series in Ahmedabad?
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<p>Australia will aim to square the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series on another spin minefield when the final Test begins in Ahmedabad on Thursday. </p>
<p>India were chastened by a rare home defeat in the third Test last week and are looking to bounce back to take the series 3-1. </p>
<p>With victory in Ahmedabad, India will secure a berth in the ICC World Test Championship final at the Oval in June. </p>
<p>Australia clinched their place in the showpiece with their nine-wicket third Test win, completed before lunch on the third day on a treacherous Indore track. </p>
<p>Pat Cummins has remained at home because of a family illness, leaving Smith with another chance to pit his wits against India in the subcontinent. </p>
<p>India and Australia’s Prime Ministers are scheduled to attend on Thursday where another sharply turning wicket is expected at the Narendra Modi Stadium.</p>
<p>Despite the local Gujarat Cricket Association’s assurances of a “normal pitch”, both sides are again expected to pick three spinners. </p>
<p>India may opt for the wrist-spin of Kuldeep Yadav instead of Axar Patel, who has taken only one wicket in the series. </p>
<p>India may also strengthen their batting by dropping a seam bowler and bringing in the explosive Suryakumar Yadav. </p>
<p>In Indore, Nathan Lyon and Matthew Kuhnemann starred in Australia’s second Test victory on Indian soil since 2004. </p>
Asked how long can Lyon continue, Hussey said: “As long as he wants really. He’s been amazing with his longevity and he’s still pretty young really. He’s got years and years to go, as long as his body keeps holding up.”
There is a saying that spinners mature after 30 and Lyon with 479 wickets from 118 Tests is a shining example of that adage.
“They always say spinners come into their peak into their 30s and maybe into their late 30s, it’s a tough art and I don’t see why he can’t keep going for a long time,” Hussey told Australia’s SEN Radio.
Australia will face India in the fourth and final Test in Ahmedabad starting from March 9.
Hussey said he would like slow left-arm orthodox Matt Kuhnemann to partner Lyon in case Australia decide to play with two specialist spinners instead of three. The third spinner is offie Todd Murphy, who has been equally impressive.
“I have been really impressed with (Todd) Murphy, he looks really good. Having said that though, I like to have the balance in the attack where you’ve got one guy spinning it into the right-hander and one guy spinning away.
“I would probably lean towards Kuhnemann, but only for that reason that he’s turning the ball in the opposite direction (to the right hander).”
(With PTI inputs)
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