"I'm in shock; it doesn't make any sense whatsoever" - Shane Warne fumes over Nathan Lyon's tactics
Shane Warne wasn't impressed with Nathan Lyon's defensive tactics against Cheteshwar Pujara. The spin-legend didn't mince any words in expressing his irk with a lack of an off-side bat-pad fielder for Pujara.
Pujara was lucky to survive in Lyon's first over of the final day as an LBW review was turned down, and DRS showed Umpire's Call. However, the right-handed batsman has looked comformable against Lyon after that, using his feet and angles to perfection.
Talking on Fox Sports, Shane Warne revealed the conversation he had with Lyon about what worked against Pujara. The off-spinner had agreed, but failed to follow through during the match.
"I'm in shock; it doesn't make any sense whatsoever. I don't have an answer, I just cannot explain why he hasn't got one because he knows how it changes his (Pujara's) game, so why on earth would you not have one? I'd like to think I know a little bit about spin bowling and I have chatted to Nathan Lyon about it. He's admitted it works, but he hasn't got one today," said Warne.
Coming into the series, Nathan Lyon was seen as one of Australia's most lethal weapons, given his record in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy history. But he looked a pale shadow of himself. The experienced bowler averages more than 60 with a strike rate edging towards 140 in the current series.
"They didn't try things" - Shane Warne slams bowlers
Shane Warne wasn't happy with the Aussie pacers either, who stuck with the fourth stump line-and-length tactic for most part of the first session on the final day. The fatigued pace battery gave one last push before Lunch and bowled a barrage of bouncers.
The Indian batters were conspicuously uncomfortable but still saw off the tricky phase. As Pat Cummins delivered a short ball into Pujara's body, Shane Warne said it is "ridiculous' that the quicks didn't try it before in the session."
"It's not ruthless enough, they didn't try things...Why haven't they done this earlier; there's that many coaches around the Australian team (that should) say something, it's ridiculous," said Warne.
With 83 runs on board at the loss of just one wicket of Rohit Sharma, the visitors safely negotiated the crucial first session on Day 5. However, the real test lies ahead as the cracks in the Gabba surface will widen further under the shining sun.