Managing expectations is Nathan Lyon’s next major challenge, as the offspinner seeks to back up his career-best performance.
Lyon spun Australia to a dramatic 48-run victory in the first Test against India, triggering a collapse of 8-73 in the final session.
It was rightly hailed as the greatest effort by an Australian spinner since Shane Warne.
Other headlines highlighted the fact Lyon was set to become the country’s most prolific Test off-spinner.
More important than match figures of 12-286 was the way Lyon almost single-handedly bowled out a side on day five.
Never before had he done anything like it.
“It could go either way psychologically. Hopefully he’s now thinking `wow, I’ve had a breakthrough moment and I’m a lot more confident on day five,'” said John Davison, Lyon’s spin mentor.
“Or it could be a case of `well, now everyone expects me to do it, every time.’
“It’s a matter of managing those expectations.”
Davison said it was a case of finding “some consistency”.
“Having said that, it’s rare for the stars to align like they did in Adelaide: toss, conditions, runs on the board,: Davison said.
“For him to get that opportunity and take 12 wickets is awesome.”
Davison, Cricket Australia’s spin coach, delivered a short pep talk to Lyon at tea on day five after Virat Kohli and Murali Vijay batted superbly in a wicket-less second session.
“He’d had a tough day. He’d bowled really well and things hadn’t gone his way,” Davison said.
“The discussion we had was `just keep believing.’
“‘You’re creating almost two chances an over: something’s going to go our way and you just need that one breakthrough.'”
Davison cautioned Lyon may have a different role to play at the Gabba.
“He’ll still generate good bounce … but he might have to be a little bit more defensive during the middle stages,” Davison said.
Lyon was dropped twice last year, while there were fresh calls for him to be axed after capturing three wickets at an average of 140 in the recent Test series against Pakistan.
Davison believed it was a case of pundits looking at figures instead of watching Lyon bowl, noting Australia lost two tosses and were always chasing the game.
“In Adelaide I don’t think he bowled much differently to what he bowled in Dubai when there was a bit of pressure on him,” he said.
“As soon as a team has 500-plus on the board in the first innings, there’s pretty much only one team that can win that game.
“We spoke (after the UAE series) about what works for him in Australia … he still had that belief he’s the best spinner in the country.”
Davison suggested there’s no reason the 27-year-old can’t remain exactly that until his “mid-30s”.
“He’s got a good physique for what he does. If he stays injury free, there’s definitely a long career in front of him,” he said.
“He’s played 30-odd Tests … he’s a lot more confident and maybe a bit more skilful (compared to a year ago).
“Every Test you play, every experience you go through, hopefully you’re improving.”
AUSTRALIA’S MOST PROLIFIC TEST OFFSPINNERS
HUGH TRUMBLE
*141 wickets from 32 Tests, average of 21.78
ASHLEY MALLETT
*132 wickets from 38 Tests, average of 29.84
NATHAN LYON
*127 wickets from 36 Tests, average of 34.66.
