Greg Matthews backs Nathan Lyon as Australia’s best spinner since Warne – Cricket News Update
Former off-spinner, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shane-Keith-Warne-c89672.
The former Canberra star was put under significant criticism following his lack of success on the final day’s play (when the conditions best suit the spinners) during the recent Australian Test matches. In the Adelaide Test against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757, Australia
required only six wickets to clinch a 1-0 lead in the 3-match series. However, with the exception of fast-bowler http://www.senore.com/Cricket/PM-Siddle-c2197, the Australian attack struggled against the patient Proteas batting.
Bowling excessive overs on the final day (as http://www.senore.com/Cricket/James-Pattinson-c1653 fell injured during the game), the 25-year-old was able to grab only a single wicket. The same was repeated during the Hobart Test. Requiring 8 Sri Lankan wickets on the last day of the opening
Test, Lyon never struck for the Kangaroos, while Siddle again stole the show.
However, backing the young off spinner, the 53-year-old shared that Lyon, at his age, is doing well for Australia and should be appreciated for it. He further cited his stats, 56 wickets in 17 Tests, and is confident that the spinner will only get better
with time.
“I think everyone needs to take a massive deep breath and think 'Wow, here's a 25-year-old boy who's played … 17 Tests and is doing a great job for Australia. Let’s seriously get in proportion,” shared Matthews.
Matthews, who has played 33 Tests for the Aussies, questioned the management for not having a dedicated spin-bowling coach in order to support and groom upcoming spinners.
“We have Pace [Bowling] http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746, we have batting coaches, we have wicketkeeping coaches, we have fielding coaches, it's amazing that the slow-bowling fraternity, my brothers, are not getting more support,” stated the 53-year-old.
Australia lead the 3-Test series against the touring Lankans 1-0 and Lyon is named in the squad for the Boxing Day Test, scheduled to kick-off on December 26 at Melbourne.
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