Australia’s Nathan Lyon, a seasoned off-spinner, exudes confidence in his team’s ability to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) from India during the upcoming Aussie summer. The BGT, which will be contested over five Tests for the first time, holds immense significance as it could determine a place in the World Test Championship final.
Lyon, who has been meticulously analyzing the Indian batsmen since England’s tour of India earlier this year, believes Australia will emerge victorious with a resounding 5-0 scoreline. He emphasizes the need for Australia’s top batsmen to deliver substantial centuries to put pressure on India’s pace attack, led by Jasprit Bumrah.
“We need big runs. We need the guys who are talented enough to get the hundred. The likes of Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, and Travis Head, all the top order. I don’t want 101 or 107, I want 180 and 200,” Lyon asserted.
The pain of not winning the BGT since 2014 has been palpable among Australian cricketers. Lyon, who has played a pivotal role in Australia’s Test success, is eager to end this drought and bring the trophy back home.
“It’s been 10 years since we have won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. I started thinking about this series when England were over in India… I love the game and I will watch a decent Test match, but I have had eyes on this series (BGT) for a long time now,” Lyon said.
Lyon’s confidence stems from his meticulous preparation and understanding of the Indian batsmen’s strengths and weaknesses. He has been taking notes and seeking insights from other spinners who have recently toured India.
“I had a really good chat with Tom Hartley (England spinner), just about the way he went about it, when (Yashasvi) Jaiswal went after him. That’s something I picked up from him,” Lyon revealed.
With the BGT set to commence in December, the anticipation is building. Lyon’s bold prediction has added fuel to the fire, setting the stage for an enthralling series that could reshape the landscape of Test cricket.
