Ahead of the third Test at Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) against India, Australia’s premier spinner Nathan Lyon has warned the hosts to worry about world-class Rohit Sharma but said they are ready with their plans to counter one of the best batsmen of the world this week
He further said it will be interesting to see whom India will leave in order to draft the right-hander in the playing XI for the third Test of Border-Gavaskar Trophy starting January 7 (Thursday) at the SCG.
After missing two Tests of the ongoing four-Test series in Australia, the 33-year-old, who was named the vice-captain of the Test side with Ajinkya Rahane as the stand-in skipper for the remainder of the series, has returned to the Indian squad and is likely to will open the batting.
Well, Team India has a couple of options in Mayank Agarwal, Hanuma Vihari and Shubman Gill for the opener’s role and Lyon is eager to see the change India makes for Rohit’s inclusion for the Sydney Test.
However, the off-spinner is ready for the battle with Rohit but warned Australia of the threat the batsman can pose with his wide range of strokes in the upcoming third Test.
Lyon said at a virtual press conference on Monday: “Obviously, Rohit Sharma is one of the best players in the world going around, so it is going to be a big challenge for us bowlers, but we are going to show our way from it, we love challenging ourself.”
The Aussie further noted: “He (Rohit) is a big input for the Indian side, so it is going to be interesting to see who they leave out. But we will have our plans ready for Rohit, and hopefully, we can get on top of him nice and early, but respecting how good a cricketer Rohit is.”
On Rahane, Lyon said: “He (Rahane) is obviously a world-class batter, which obviously helps with everything. I think the patience that he shows at the crease, he doesn't seem to get (frustrated) much.”
He further added, “He (Rahane) doesn't buy into any sledging or any conservation out there in the middle, he is pretty calm and collective batter (of the) opposition, so it is few different things that he offers. But he is obviously the leader of India at the moment as Virat (Kohli) is not here, so he is standing up at the moment and I know we will have our plans ready to hopefully combat him come to the SCG Test.”
On plans against India’s stand-in captain Rahane, the spinner said: “I think (Ajinkya) Rahane played me extremely well in Melbourne, so I know I am going to come up with a couple of different plans for him and a few different guys, so I am looking forward to putting them in place.”
He added, “But, to be honest with you, we have been pretty accurate with our bowling, as a squad to take 20 wickets quite quickly in Adelaide but then challenged a little bit in Melbourne. But to stay there and keep creating chances, that was positive. So, we are very confident as a bowling group and I know personally I have got a few different plans to put in place.”
Praising India’s off-spinner R Ashwin, Nathan said: “Yeah, Ashwin is bowling very well. He is a world-class spinner and I have said that throughout my whole career. He has bowled quite a straight line to our batters, which they haven't had come up with a plan as yet.”
The Aussie continued, “I think they will come up with one of them and counter Ashwin's plan in Sydney. But he (Ashwin) is a world-class bowler and what you expect, he has got a decent record around the world, so hats off to him.”
Lyon signed off by saying that Indian batsmen “have played me pretty similar. Every series I come up against India, they try to be quite attacking.”
(With PTI Inputs)
