There is a lot of excitement around Australia’s upcoming Test series against India. The reigning World Test Champions will host India in five Test matches, slated to get underway on November 22 in Perth.
India have won the last two Test series on Australian soil, while they have held onto the coveted Border-Gavaskar Trophy since March 2017.
However, the Australian team is determined to turn things around in the forthcoming series, as acknowledged by Nathan Lyon.
The veteran off-spinner wants the Australian top-order batters to lift their game and play marathon knocks against India.
“We need big runs. We need the guys, who are talented enough to get the hundred,” Lyon replied to Australian women’s team captain Alysa Healy on the “Willow Talk” podcast.
“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.
“If I will have a day off, I am pretty sure that I will be more effective and can help my team win the Test match,” he added.
The 36-year-old revealed he is keenly waiting for his duel with young India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, who has taken the cricketing world by storm with his stunning display in Test cricket.
Lyon said he will make use of the insights he gained from England's Tom Hartley during his time with Lancashire as he prepares to bowl to the quality Indian batters later this year.
“I had a really good chat with Tom Hartley, just about the way he went about it, when Jaiswal went after him. That’s something I picked up from him,” said Lyon.
“Will Sarfaraz come over here or will it be Rahul? They got a side full of superstars,” he further stated.
Lyon said he is eager to renew his rivalry with Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant during the five-match Test series.
“Having Virat out here, Rishabh Pant has been picked for the Tests against Bangladesh, so that’s an amazing story. It’s going to be pretty big,” he remarked.
Nathan Lyon doesn’t agree with the notion that Test cricket is dying. He said: “I am really forward to play the five-match series. This series is getting bigger and bigger and when people says that Test cricket is dying, I disagree.”
“When you walk on the street and talk to the local people, they are already saying ‘India this summer eh’. This series is in the back of people’s mind.”
Australia have not defeated India in a Test series since 2014-15, but Lyon expects his team to win by 5-0 margin this time around.
“It’s been ten years since we have won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy,” said Lyon. “I started thinking about this series when England were over in India, watching them to go about it. I love the game and I will watch a decent Test match but I have eyes on this series for a long time now. My prediction is 5-0 to Australia.”
The team that claims the Border-Gavaskar Trophy could be well poised to earn a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final at Lord’s next year. India are currently heading the points table, followed by the defending champions Australia.
