SL vs AUS: Nathan Lyon Will Be Key To Australia's Success In The Test Series: Shane Watson

Shane Watson feels that Nathan Lyon’s spin bowling, in particular, will be crucial to Australia’s success against Sri Lanka in the next Test series.

After the white-ball portion of the tour is over in Sri Lanka, the two teams will play a two-match Test series beginning on June 29.

Given that both Test matches will be played in Galle, which is known as a haven for spinners, Watson felt it was obvious that Australia would field at least a two-man spin attack.

It Is Going To Be A Big Test For Mitchell Swepson: Shane Watson

“Australia again will have to take in two spinners, for sure and the batters will have to bat very well in the first innings because it can be very challenging to bat in the second innings when the wickets start to dry and the footmarks come into play,” Watson told Isa Guha in the latest episode of The ICC Review.

“The Test series that I played over there, quite a few years ago now, definitely used a drier sort of wicket that does turn quite a bit. 

For top-of-the-table Australia to keep up their momentum in the ICC World Test Championship standings, according to Watson, Lyon (427 wickets in 108 matches) and Mitchell Swepson, who recently made his debut in Pakistan and impressed alongside Lyon, must make an impact.

“The spinners will have to bowl really well, Nathan Lyon’s going to have to step up and be the man to help Australia win those Test matches and bowl Sri Lanka out. It’s going to be a big test for Mitchell Swepson, who played the last couple of Tests in Pakistan. It potentially could be a make-or-break Test series for him.

If he’s able to bowl really well, then he could lock himself into being No.2 for quite a while. But if things don’t go exactly right, then Australia might start to look for someone else.

“All reports suggest that Mitchell has been bowling really well, taking a lot of wickets in Shield cricket as well. So there are great signs. Hopefully, he’s able to step up as well because he’s going to be really important, “ Watson further added.

There have been reports though that Jon Holland might play ahead of Swepson.

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