"I request Ashwin to reply and say India will defeat Australia 5-0" - Basit Ali blasts Nathan Lyon for 5-0 BGT 2024/25 prediction
Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali blasted Australian spinner Nathan Lyon for his 5-0 prediction for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India. The two teams will battle over five Tests, starting in Perth on November 22.
In a conversation on the Willow Talk Podcast, Lyon predicted a 5-0 for his side in the India series at home. This is despite India having defeated Australia in the last four bilateral Test series. However, the Aussies upstaged India in their most recent Test meeting in the 2023 World Test Championship (WTC) final.
Basit Ali slammed Lyon on his YouTube channel for his premature prediction and called on his counterpart Ravichandran Ashwin to make a similar comment.
"I will only say one thing about Nathan Lyon's stupid statement that Australia will defeat India by six Tests (sarcastically), but only by words. In the past two series, India have dominated Australia. Such comments don't suit cricketers. Ricky Ponting or former cricketers can make such statements. I request Ashwin to reply and say that India will defeat Australia 5-0," said Basit Ali [4:50].
Included in India's four consecutive Test series wins over the Aussies are two 2-1 victories in Australia. The two teams are also at the top of the current WTC standings and are on course to meet in the final again next year.
"I don’t want 101 or 107, I want 180 and 200" - Nathan Lyon
![Lyon called on Smith and Labuschagne to score big centuries against India [Credit: Getty]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/09/49e13-17266837624285-1920.jpg?w=500)
Nathan Lyon called on key Australian batters like Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head to convert their centuries into bigger scores in the upcoming Test series against India.
Despite making a 5-0 prediction, Lyon admitted that not winning the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for a decade has left him waiting for this series for a long time.
"We need big runs. We need the guys, who are talented enough to get the hundred. The likes of Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, and Travis Head, all the top order. I don’t want 101 or 107, I want 180 and 200," said Lyon on the Willow Talk Podcast, as quoted by India Today.
He continued:
"It’s been 10 years since we have won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. I started thinking about this series when England were over in India, watching them to go about it. I love the game and I will watch a decent Test match but I have eyes on this series for a long time now."
Australia's last Test series win against India came at home in the 2014/15 Border Gavaskar Trophy, when they won by a 2-0 scoreline.