IND vs AUS: Australia’s greatest off-spinner Nathan Lyon’s days are numbered. Ahead of the Delhi Test, Australian Media looked at contenders who can fill the void which will be left when Lyon will retire from the game. Though it’s a frightening thought overall, Nathan Lyon time playing for Australia in Test matches is coming to an end. Ongoing Australia’s Tour of India could very well be the last for Lyon in the spin-favorable subcontinent. Follow India vs Australia and Border Gavaskar Trophy LIVE updates with InsideSport.IN
IND vs AUS: ‘Nathan Lyon’s days numbered’ claims Australian Media ahead of Delhi Rank Turner, Aussies looking toward contenders to fill void, CHECK Why
The seasoned off-spinner Lyon, who recently turned 35, is approaching the end of his Test career. Both Stuart MacGill and the late Shane Warne retired at the age of 37. When Graeme Swann decided to retire, he was 34.
Only two active Test cricket players above the age of 37 are currently playing, and they are James Anderson of England and Craig Ervine of Zimbabwe. Modern sports science allows athletes to participate far into their 30s.
Lyon’s retirement is soon to come, and his absence would leave a huge vacancy in Australia’s Test XI. How can you replace a cricketer who has taken close to 500 wickets in Test matches? That’s the biggest question that Cricket Australia is going through nowadays.
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In order to make sure that the nation’s spin resources are strong when Lyon inevitably hangs up his boots, Cricket Australia has already put a strategy into motion as per Fox Cricket.
For instance, Todd Murphy and Matthew Kuhnemann are already familiar with the realities on the subcontinent thanks to CA activities from the previous 12 months; they have not been thrown into the deep end in India.
Both spinners participated in Australia A’s tour of Sri Lanka last year; Murphy took 4-52 from 19 overs in Hambantota, and Matt Kuhnemann claimed two wickets before receiving an unexpected call-up for an ODI.
Murphy’s performance in Nagpur serves as concrete evidence that A tours are crucial to producing the next wave of Test stars.
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Last year, Murphy, Kuhnemann, and New South Wales leg-spinner Sangha were flown to the MRF Academy in Chennai to work on their craft in the special circumstances of the subcontinent. The Murphy adventure in Asia surely yielded rewards.