Skip to Content Skip to Navigation

News

Lyon happy to contribute

01/27/2012 11:24:49 AM

Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon was delighted to take the wicket of India opener Virender Sehwag to kick-start his fine spell on Friday.

With Sehwag in a ravenous mood on day four of the fourth Test, it was Lyon (3-57) who ensured the acting Indian skipper's knock was merely an exciting cameo rather than one of the famed monsters he has been noted for over the years.

With India 80-1, Lyon got rid of the rampaging Sehwag - who had belted 62 at better than a run a ball - to kick-start a mini-collapse on Friday.

India ultimately stumbled to 166-6 at Adelaide Oval and with little hope of surviving for a draw, much less reeling in the 500 required for victory.

Sehwag advanced down the pitch to a floating full toss and looked to smash it over the on-side boundary, but only succeeded in lobbing a simple catch to Ricky Ponting at cover after getting a huge leading edge.

"It was a full toss - it probably wasn't my best ball going around, but they've still got to play it," Lyon said.

"I'm not going to call him back, that's for sure."

"Ricky Ponting came up to me just before that ball and said 'do him in the air' ... so I was pretty happy with it."

While the Sehwag wicket was a gift, the same could not be said for Lyon's second victim, Sachin Tendulkar (13), shortly after tea.

"It was an absolute privilege to get him out," Lyon said.

"I felt I've bowled reasonably OK all Australian summer. It's just good to be able to contribute, hopefully, to a team victory."

Lyon became the toast of Australia and the villain to over a billion Indians when he sent Tendulkar packing, leaving him waiting for his 100th international century.

'The Little Master' prodded forward defensively, only for the ball to brush his glove, deflect onto his pad and lob to Ed Cowan for a simple catch at short leg.

It was a key wicket but Lyon warned there is still some work to be done as the match extends into a rare fifth day.

"We've still got another four wickets to go tomorrow," Lyon said.

"The job's not done as far as we're concerned."

"We're going to have to turn up and be on our game and hopefully get these four wickets."

Another vital wicket was that of Virat Kohli (22), who was run out by a sensational Ben Hilfenhaus direct hit at the non-striker's end seven balls from stumps.

Kohli had criticised the home side's sledging 24 hours earlier, labelling Hilfenhaus as the main culprit, which left the Australians feeling pretty good.

"There's some good feeling in the change room right now (after the Kohli run out)," Lyon said.

"What's been said on the field stays on the field as far as I'm concerned."

"Ben Hilfenhaus's run out was pretty special."

With four wickets remaining on a fifth-day pitch, Lyon has the chance to capture a big haul, a rarity for Australian spinners against India over the years.

He will likely be given plenty of overs to do so on a wicket the spinner is happy with.

"It's been a perfect Test match wicket in my book," Lyon said.

"There's been some early wickets and some runs scored and now we're starting to see some natural variation, some spin and the ball starting to keep low."

"It's been a good Test match wicket at Adelaide Oval."

"I can't see it being too bad of a wicket - still pretty good to bat on when the ball's in the middle of the wicket."

"There's plenty of rough for the spinners so hopefully I'll be able to play more of a role tomorrow."

 
Photograph Copyright : Getty Images
Page12»

Latest Headlines

Dufner moves into top 10
Dufner moves into top 10
05/28/2012 11:20:57 AM
Jason Dufner moved into the top 10 in golf's world rankings for the first time after his ...
 
 
Pulse outgun Steel
Pulse outgun Steel
05/28/2012 10:19:01 AM
The Central Pulse have picked up their fourth win of the season with a 58-50 victory over ...
 
 
Adelaide keen for another scalp
Adelaide keen for another scalp
05/28/2012 09:37:10 AM
Adelaide United have their sights firmly set on a quarter-final berth as they look to ...
 
 
Yakubu set to leave Blackburn
05/28/2012 09:00:45 AM
 
Carroll ready to shine at Euros
05/28/2012 08:58:43 AM
 
Kompany: England may surprise
05/28/2012 08:48:18 AM
 
Knights sign Broncos discard
05/28/2012 08:27:12 AM
 
Tapia's life ends at 45
05/28/2012 08:05:07 AM
 
Eagles star faces ban
05/28/2012 07:55:10 AM
 
 
 

Our Say

Freo's failure comes down to talent
Freo's failure comes down to talent
05/27/2012 11:02:27 PM
Fremantle's finals hopes are in disarray but the dire situation they find themselves in ...
 
 
Cats need kick up the backside
05/25/2012 11:13:51 PM
 
Interstate sides back on top
05/23/2012 02:51:54 AM
 
Crackers' Call: Dees sinking further
05/21/2012 02:16:28 AM
 
Is it too late to make the eight?
05/20/2012 09:38:56 PM