“My prediction is 5-0 to Australia" - Nathan Lyon backs the Aussies to complete a whitewash to reclaim Border-Gavaskar Trophy
Veteran Australian spinner Nathan Lyon has predicted a 5-0 whitewash against India in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy later this year. The Aussies have not defeated India in a Test series since 2014, even losing successive rubbers on home soil.
While most pundits and fans expect a closely contested affair between the two heavyweights, Lyon has backed Australia to defeat India dominantly and ruthlessly. The Men in Yellow last completed a whitewash over India during the infamous 2011 tour, which signaled the end of Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman's careers.
"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. My prediction is 5-0 to Australia,” Lyon told Alyssa Healy on the 'Willow Talk' podcast
Lyon had recently named Yashasvi Jaiswal the next Indian superstar, and the match-up between the two will be intriguing. The off-spinner has had fascinating battles with aggressive left-handed batter Rishabh Pant, and Jaiswal is also built of the same mold.
Lyon revealed that he has talked about Jaiswal with England spinner Tom Hartley. The left-arm spinner debuted against India earlier this year and managed to dismiss Jaiswal in the second innings of the famous win in Hyderabad.
“I had a really good chat with Tom Hartley, just about the way he went about it, when Jaiswal went after him. That’s something I picked up from him. Will Sarfaraz come over here or will it be Rahul? They got a side full of superstars," Lyon added
Jaiswal had welcomed Hartley into international cricket by hitting him for two sixes. The spinner, however, ended up being the leading wicket-taker for England in the series.
Lyon, the leading wicket-taker in Border-Gavaskar Trophy history with 116 scalps, will be looking to tame Jaiswal. The upcoming series marks the first tour of Australia for the youngster, who will be looking for a turnaround after his poor outing in the previous away series against South Africa.
"I don’t want 101 or 107, I want 180 and 200" - Nathan Lyon's message to the Australian batters
Lyon asserted the importance of piling on runs against a formidable Indian bowling outfit and wants the likes of Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, and Travis Head to fire.
"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," Lyon said in the same interaction.
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy is scheduled to begin on November 22 in Perth.