Bradman99 Posted February 15, 2011 Posted February 15, 2011 Former Test captain Kim Hughes has declared the long search for Australia's next match-winning spinner to be over, saying South Australia spinner Nathan Lyon is a "star" who will play Test cricket this year. And Hughes has urged Cricket Australia to send Lyon to India to learn from champion India spinner Erapalli Prasanna. Hughes was lavish in his praise of Lyon after closely watching the off-spinner's 66 overs (6-200) on debut against Western Australia in Perth over the weekend. "He'll become a very, very important player for Australia," Hughes said. "This kid's perfect as far as his action goes. "He's a genuine class spinner and miles in front of the others. "He's going to be a star. He's a natural. He's got a good temperament." Heaping such early praise upon a player is of course fraught with danger. Witness Tony Greig saying Jason Krejza was the best spinner in the country after his opening over of lovely curling off-breaks in the recent one-day international in Perth. Krejza repaid Greig's faith by promptly serving up a string of half-trackers. But Hughes is adamant his assessment of Lyon is no case of premature beatification. He sought out the 23-year-old after Lyon took 4-81 in WA's first innings, a haul that included Marcus North, Adam Voges and top scorer Luke Pomersbach. "I said, 'Mate, you look fantastic'," Hughes said. "I know it's only your first match but don't change a thing - don't let those coaches stuff you around. I like his attitude. He's not up himself." Indeed he is not. At his first press conference in Adelaide recently, Lyon was revealed as a spinner unpractised in the art of off-field spin, dropping the word "bloody" three times to reporters. It was a refreshing performance from a man who came to South Australia from country NSW via Canberra. Lyon found work on Adelaide Oval's ground staff and so impressed SA Twenty20 coach Darren Berry in a trial match that he was picked for the Big Bash. The uncontracted spinner was the equal-leading wicket-taker in the T20 series, impressing with his flight and guile. Suddenly he was the first-choice slow man for SA's Shield match on the spinners' graveyard WACA pitch. While his six-wicket return was impressive rather than spectacular, Hughes said it was more about the way he bowled. "He'll bowl a lot worse than this and take wickets," Hughes said at the weekend. "He hardly bowled a bad ball. "He beat the bat a number of times. He got the ball to turn." The youngster was unafraid to toss the ball up to a field that had just three men on the leg-side. And he proved his durability by bowling 40 overs in WA's second innings to again dismiss North and Pomersbach. Indeed, Lyon out-bowled the incumbent Test spinner, Michael Beer, whose three match scalps were all tail-enders. Hughes says Lyon should be dispatched to India in the off-season to seek Prasanna's counsel. He recalled Prasanna turning the ball prodigiously on a glassy WACA pitch during a tour match in 1977. Prasanna claimed the young Hughes twice in that match - albeit for 99 and 38 - creating a lasting impression. "I've had the pleasure of sitting down with Prasanna and talking to him about what an off-spinner should be looking for," Hughes said of the 189 Test-wicket master. "He's the best off-spinner I've ever seen. "It was a bit like fishing. He'd leave you a shot through extra cover, but that would bring his bat-pad into play. "(Lyon will) learn more from him in three to five days than he would at the (Australian) academy. "If he went to India and practised on those wickets, he'd learn a tremendous amount." Hughes put his suggestion to national talent manager Greg Chappell during an interview on ABC radio on Saturday. Chappell said CA planned to send some spinners to India during the winter and did not rule out the "very impressive" Lyon being on the plane. "He's shown great composure, good skill (and is) a very natural looking off-spinner (with) good flight," Chappell said.
Sooda Posted February 15, 2011 Posted February 15, 2011 Interesting. First match though, think they should give him a season at least!
gaurav92 Posted February 15, 2011 Posted February 15, 2011 LOL From when did Aus started treating their players like the Pakis do :cantstop: A star in the making by just one odd game ? By that standard, even Narendra Hirwani got 16 wickets on his test debut, and what followed next was history. I would love to see him bowl for at least a couple of years before commenting.
Bradman99 Posted February 15, 2011 Author Posted February 15, 2011 Yeah, I think he is just trying to get his name in the newspapers so that the selectors pick him (wouldn't put anything past the selectors).. I have to say though, he does look like he has a good technique. That is important, the early signs are promising, he certainly looks to have potential. @ Gaurav- mate we are very desperate in the spinners department, you know that lol
Bradman99 Posted February 15, 2011 Author Posted February 15, 2011 Yeeah Ma Boi From Canberra What you make of him buddy?
99.94 Posted February 15, 2011 Posted February 15, 2011 What you make of him buddy? Honeslty haven't seen much of him (one or two Big Bash games), looked alright, good variety. He's from Canberra so he must be good though.
Chandan Posted February 15, 2011 Posted February 15, 2011 Yeah, I think he is just trying to get his name in the newspapers so that the selectors pick him (wouldn't put anything past the selectors).. I have to say though, he does look like he has a good technique. That is important, the early signs are promising, he certainly looks to have potential. @ Gaurav- mate we are very desperate in the spinners department, you know that lol Aren't Australian tracks supposed graveyards for the off spinners? Then why are you guys looking for offies when you'll be playing half of the test matches of the year at home? Is no leggie coming up? How come all the leg spinners have vanished from all over the world?
Chandan Posted February 15, 2011 Posted February 15, 2011 Two words- Mishra. Chawla. :P Not talking about failed spinners. In that we have others too Rashid, Kaneria(far better than the ones you mentioned) and then the upcoming one Tahir from SA who I haven't watched. There could be a few others too. I'm talking about classical wrist spinners like even MacGill, if not Warne!
kabira Posted February 15, 2011 Posted February 15, 2011 ^how are Mishra and Chawla failed spinners? They haven't played lot of test cricket, Mishra showed promise then he started playing on some dead surfaces. He still has the potential same as chawla.
Sir_Afridi Posted February 15, 2011 Posted February 15, 2011 Two words- Mishra. Chawla. :P Mishra averages 39 & Chawla averages 45 in tests. :fail:
Chandan Posted February 15, 2011 Posted February 15, 2011 ^how are Mishra and Chawla failed spinners? They haven't played lot of test cricket, Mishra showed promise then he started playing on some dead surfaces. He still has the potential same as chawla. For me, they are failed ones, as far as test cricket goes. Showing promise in one series and then falling apart in others and then getting dropped after which being tonked by the domestic batsmen at 4+ an over in a FC game and going wicketless doesn't tell me that Mishra is successful or is going to be successful in tests. As for Chawla, a leggie who can't get a wicket with his leg-spinner will never succeed in longer version and his FC bowling in India says so. If you think they are successful or are going to be successful, then you are entitled to your opinion. I'll be happy to be proved wrong! But I'm quite curious how Australia has lost track in producing good leggies despite having perhaps the best leg spinner EVER in cricket's history just 5 years back! Are there no upcoming leggies there?
kabira Posted February 15, 2011 Posted February 15, 2011 For me, they are failed ones, as far as test cricket goes. Showing promise in one series and then falling apart in others and then getting dropped after which being tonked by the domestic batsmen at 4+ an over in a FC game and going wicketless doesn't tell me that Mishra is successful or is going to be successful in tests. As for Chawla, a leggie who can't get a wicket with his leg-spinner will never succeed in longer version and his FC bowling in India says so. If you think they are successful or are going to be successful, then you are entitled to your opinion. I'll be happy to be proved wrong! But I'm quite curious how Australia has lost track in producing good leggies despite having perhaps the best leg spinner EVER in cricket's history just 5 years back! Are there no upcoming leggies there? When Mishra was not successful, which other spinner was successful?? One match he playes and another game he sits out. Ofcourse his confidence is shattered. To become a champion team, leggie is must, leggie will win you games on day 4 and 5. He definately has potential and needs to be persisted. Chawla hasn't played test matches. When you say leggie who can't get wicket with his leg spinner. that thing makes no sense. Did Kumble ever turn that much? Most ppl will handle the turn, its the subtle variation which wil create doubts. He is still young, but definately has potential. Most teams will kill for a leggie.
gaurav92 Posted February 16, 2011 Posted February 16, 2011 Yeah, I think he is just trying to get his name in the newspapers so that the selectors pick him (wouldn't put anything past the selectors).. I have to say though, he does look like he has a good technique. That is important, the early signs are promising, he certainly looks to have potential. @ Gaurav- mate we are very desperate in the spinners department, you know that lol Yaa I know :) Aren't Australian tracks supposed graveyards for the off spinners? Then why are you guys looking for offies when you'll be playing half of the test matches of the year at home? Is no leggie coming up? How come all the leg spinners have vanished from all over the world? Yes. There was a leggie called Bryce Mcgain, but he is 37, so he wont be playing much Cricket. Other than that, all I see is Orthodox Left armers or the offies, no wrist spinners in Australia, all I see is Steve Smith, and we all know, how good a bowler he is :D Two words- Mishra. Chawla. :P :cantstop:
punjabi_khota Posted February 16, 2011 Posted February 16, 2011 :yawn2: I have heard those exact words before...krezja, hauritz, blah, blah
Watson87 Posted February 16, 2011 Posted February 16, 2011 I have heard those exact words about Steve Smith who looks like a pig, bowls like Mohammed Azharuddin and bats like Zaheer Khan. Talk less and show more
Desi Cartman Posted February 16, 2011 Posted February 16, 2011 BTW why cant our bowlers learn from Prasanna ? I am sure Prasanna and other great spinners can help the bunch of spinners we have. At the moment Mr Bhajji can use a few tips PS: No bedi
falcons360 Posted February 16, 2011 Posted February 16, 2011 [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJlK1XSg5N8]YouTube - Nathan Lyon bowling, 2010/11 Twenty20 Big Bash - 720p HD[/ame] Guys this kid is good
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