As the Australian cricket team prepares for the highly anticipated Test series against India, veteran spinner Nathan Lyon is brimming with confidence. Despite recent struggles in bilateral series, Lyon asserts that their triumph in the World Test Championship (WTC) final will serve as a crucial morale booster.
Aiming to Overcome Past Defeats
Lyon expressed a strong desire to improve Australia’s record against India this summer. The Australian team has not won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in nearly a decade, while India’s R. Ashwin has led his team to four consecutive titles in this prestigious series. Lyon acknowledged the challenge, stating, “India’s got the wood over us in the past few series.”
However, he remains optimistic about their chances. Reflecting on their WTC success, he noted, “If you’re looking at the World Test Championship final in England, we were able to beat them there, and I know that should give us a bit of confidence heading into (this summer).”
Confidence from Recent Success
Lyon emphasized that Australia is aware of India’s formidable reputation as a world-class side. Yet, he believes that recent successes can fuel their confidence. “We can take a lot of confidence out of where we are at as an Australian cricket team,” he added.
The Australian team, which holds both Test and ODI world champion titles, has faced criticism for its inability to secure series wins against India. Lyon is determined to change that narrative. “I feel like we’re on the journey to becoming a great team. We’re not there yet; there’s a bit of work to do, but we have the opportunity to do something pretty special this summer,” he remarked.
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Expecting a Strong Indian Response
Despite India’s recent 3-0 loss to New Zealand, Lyon cautioned against underestimating their opponents. He described India as “extremely dangerous” and acknowledged their capability to bounce back strongly. “They’re a class outfit, and they know their best preparation and how to come out here and perform,” he stated.
As the series approaches, Lyon highlighted the significance of reclaiming the trophy that Australia has not held for ten years. “It’s been a long ten years since Australia’s held the trophy. There’s only a few of us that would probably be in the squad that’s actually held the trophy, so it’s time to bring it home,” he hoped.
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