I Would Be A Bit Surprised If Nathan Lyon Doesn't Play A Big Part Tomorrow: Justin Langer

Australian head coach Justin Langer has said that he is banking on veteran off-spinner Nathan Lyon to spearhead the bowling attack on a fifth day Sydney track and guide the hosts to a 2-1 scoreline in the four-match series.

Langer heaped high praise on his bowling attack for the manner in which they went about their business and bowled India out for a poultry 244 in the first innings on what he termed as a wicket that is offering very little assistance to the bowlers.

“There’s very little in this wicket, we’ve seen that throughout the whole Test match. Great credit to the bowlers but we’re going to have to squeeze really hard, keep the pressure on, and hopefully the ball will start spinning a bit more again tomorrow for Nathan Lyon,” Justin Langer said in the post-day virtual press-conference.

Langer further reckoned that the wicket is offering a bit of variable bounce and he expects Nathan Lyon to come into the game big time on the final day.

He also heaped high praise on the veteran spinner for the way he bowled in the first innings. Langer hoped that Lyon will have the rub of the green going his way, something he felt alluded the off-spinner in the first innings.

“And we’ll just keep doing what we’re doing. There’s a little bit of variable bounce, hopefully that plays a part for us tomorrow as well,” said Justin Langer.

“It’s spinning a little bit. It’s been quite slow, too. I mentioned to all the players this morning but particularly made the point to Nathan in front of all the players,” he added. I thought he bowled particularly well in the first innings without luck, he might get a little bit more luck in the second dig. He’ll play a big part,” he said.

Australia got a prized scalp in the form of half-centurion Rohit Sharma just before stumps were called on day 04 and Langer described it as a big moment in the game given the fact that the champion white-ball cricketer was batting so well.

*It was a bit of a relief for us to see Rohit Sharma out there in the end, that’s a huge wicket for us because we know he’s a world class player. We know he’s one of the all-time great one-day players so if he was out there, he’s going to keep scoring quickly,” Justin Langer added.

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