Australia Tour of India 2013 |Feb-Mar|

[saneindian]

'My confidence has gone up.' Lyon challenges coach's claim that his self-belief is shot

Dumped Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon has broken his silence on his controversial Test axing, challenging coach Mickey Arthur's contention that he is down on self-belief and in need of a technical shake-up. "To bowl Sachin Tendulkar through the gate you must be doing something right," Lyon declared as Australia began a two-day break before resuming training for next week's third Test. Australia's front-line spinner for the past 18 months was dropped after the first Test defeat in Chennai and replaced by not one but two alternatives Xavier Doherty and Glenn Maxwell for an ultimately even heavier thrashing in Hyderabad. To hear Arthur talk about Lyon, and then the 25-year-old talk about himself, it is as if they are discussing two different people. The coach intimates that Lyon was battered into a crisis of confidence by M.S.Dhoni in Chennai and says his technique is in need of an update. The player does not agree. He acknowledges he was very expensive in the first Test but claims the wicket of Tendulkar in particular one of four he took in that match amid the carnage had anything but dented his confidence. It was the second time he has dismissed Tendulkar in a Test. "No, I reckon it's gone up if anything, bowling the best batsman in the world through the gate. As an off-spinner growing up that's what you dream of. My confidence has gone up a level rather than down," Lyon said. "I was quite happy with that. I went for a few runs here and there, but bowling against the best bats in the world in their conditions, they were obviously going to come hard at me playing one spinner in the side. "The technical stuff ... it's all the same, I haven't changed anything from when I first started bowling for Australia since I was 16." These are Lyon's most revealing public comments since he was promoted from the Adelaide Oval lawnmower to the Test squad for the tour of Sri Lanka in September 2011. An introvert who favours actions over words, he is generally content to toe the party line. For him of all players to be at odds with the head coach is stunning, and a demonstration of the immediate impact of back-to-back thrashings on this team's psyche. Lyon was very upset to have been shown the door after only one Test in India and feels the need to defend himself. "Yes, I bowled one maiden in Chennai but they are the best players of spin and that was quite a difficult pitch to bowl on," he said. "It was turning a lot then some weren't turning at all. To have M.S.Dhoni go off like that was something unbelievable and I have taken a lot out of that. I feel I've grown within myself and learnt a lot about my bowling. "[The selectors said] just that you are missing out this game and we're going in with Xavier and Glenn Maxwell to strengthen the batting. They just explained to me this was the side they have chosen to go forward in this Test and they will reassess from there. "I had a good chat with Stuart MacGill before [the Hyderabad] Test match and I got a lot out of that just from talking to a past Australian spinner and having a chat with Shane Warne after Chennai was fantastic." For now Lyon must grit his teeth and try to convince selectors he is worthy of a recall. In years to come, though, when this tour is but forgotten, the Tendulkar ball will live on as one of his favourites.

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/my-confidence-has-gone-up-lyon-challenges-coachs-claim-that-his-selfbelief-is-shot-20130308-2fqmt.html The other day we were praising Aussies for their professionalism. Now suddenly it all appears to be coming apart. Not sure if this is also a sly dig at his captain Clarke.

[G_B_]

anybody else wonder if Lyon is actually 25? looks 35 easily with hair falling out

[Crookbond]

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/my-confidence-has-gone-up-lyon-challenges-coachs-claim-that-his-selfbelief-is-shot-20130308-2fqmt.html The other day we were praising Aussies for their professionalism. Now suddenly it all appears to be coming apart. Not sure if this is also a sly dig at his captain Clarke.

This move by Australia is as rubbish as it can be. It seems they just never learn - Gavin Robertson (who toured India in 1998 along with Shane Warne) has a nice article on why spinners should be persisted with.

[Muloghonto]

Damn right Lyon is upset. Dry pitch, boneheaded decision to play one spinner, with nobody able to build pressure at the other end. What was Lyon supposed to do ? Even Warne was fooked when that happened. And then they go drop him, play two 'spinners' that i could out-do on my best days probably. Brilliant! Its not his fault that his batsmen can't bat against decent spin bowling.

[SLICKR392]

He is 25?

[CoverDrive]

this mickey arthur talks so much ...everyday he has an interview and he would be dissing his team and taking names of specific players and criticizing him. i am not sure why Aus picked him and SA have become much better and tougher tam since Kirsten replaced him.

[Crookbond]

He is 25?

What to do? Everyone can't have Ishant Sharma's hairstyle.

[Vanarp22]

It is not in our nature to give up: Clarke Visiting skipper Michael Clarke on Friday vowed to make a strong comeback in the remaining two Tests, despite the abject surrender in the first two games. Trailing by 0-2, Clarke warned India of a possible turnaround in the last two matches in Mohali (Mar 14-18) and Delhi (Mar 22-26). "It is not in our nature to give up without a fight. We have every chance of making a comeback and levelling the series 2-2. We feel if we win one we can win two," an optimistic Clarke said about his team's chances. "We have to win the next two Tests to level the series and that is our main focus. But obviously it is going to be tough as India are playing really good cricket at the moment." After losing the opening Test in Chennai by eight wickets, the visitors slumped to another morale-crushing defeat when India humiliated them by an innings and 35 runs in the second Test in Hyderabad. And the Australian skipper was modest in admitting that India were by far the better side on display in the opening two Tests. "No excuses for the defeats. We were outplayed in all facets of the game -- batting, bowling and fielding. The credit must go to India. But we need to improve as team," Clarke said during a function announcing Spartan Sports Goods' association with capital's Hyatt Regency hotel. "We have learnt from our mistakes in the first two games, and I feel we still have plenty of time to correct our flaws before the next game," he insisted. Clarke admitted that the touring Australia squad lacks experience when it comes to playing in tough Indian conditions. "Only four players of the current team have experience of playing Test matches in India," he said. "The conditions are tough and demanding in India. The culture, food, pitches, weather everything is different, but I guess that is the beauty of cricket." "It is lot easier to play in your own backyard but that's what international cricket is all about," Clarke added. Clarke refused speak much about Virender Sehwag's axing from the Indian squad for the remaining Tests, but said the veteran opener has a lot of cricket still left in him to make a comeback into the national side. "To be honest, I am not too much focused on the Indian team. That's up to the Indian selectors and the team management," he said when asked about Sehwag. "Virender has been a fantastic player for India in all three formats of the game. And I am confident that he will be back."' http://live.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/54665/it-is-not-in-our-nature-to-give-up-clarke

[SLICKR392]

What to do? Everyone can't have Ishant Sharma's hairstyle.

:finger:

[yoda]

Dhoni's so good, he can give Kaanfidence even to opposition bowlers and that too while scoring a double hundred.

[MCcricket]

Very interesting thought by Deano so who might be the stronger team http://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/news/item/204663-let-india-and-australia-battle-it-out-on-neutral-venue-dean-jones Every team is strong and favourite in its own backyard, therefore, to judge which team is better between India and Australia, the two teams should play on neutral venue, former cricketer Dean Jones has suggested. The former Australian batsman said the bouncy and fast pitches will always suit Australian and India would be hard to defeat on rank turners in Asian countries, so a battle on a neutral and balanced track would spell out the correct judgement. India are leading the on-going four-match series 2-0 after thrashing the visitors in Chennai and Hyderabad. Jones said two venues -- Kensington Oval in Barbados and Auckland -- are the best for the contest. "If a match was to be played at Kensington Oval, Barbados, that would be a lot more interesting. This pitch favours the quicks early, but gets lower and spins from day three. This venue would be a ripper to decide on who is the better team," Jones wrote in his column for 'Sydney Morning Herald.' "Australia's record here is four wins from 11 matches - commendable, considering most of the matches were played against the greatest sporting team of all time. While India have not won a Test match here, I feel their attack would worry the Aussies. "India need to bat first here and bat well to win. I still feel the Australian attack would cause problems here, especially if the tide comes in when they bowl. The ball seems to go everywhere when that happens," he wrote. Jones talks about a dozen other venues such as Lord's , Johannesburg, Harare, Dhaka and Colombo but said one or the other suits either Australia or India. So he spoke of Auckland as the other venue, which could help in deciding the better team. "Playing in Auckland would also be an interesting Test. The Aussies have won four matches from seven Tests here, while India have won two from four. Again, batting well in the first innings should help India on this pitch as it will spin later in the match," he writes. "The Australians, of late, have been struggling with the swinging ball and Zaheer Khan and Bhuvneshwar Kumar could cause some headaches here. I still think Australia would win here, although it's India's best chance of a win outside the subcontinent," he added.

[game_changerr]

Let India and Australia battle it out on neutral venue: Jones Every team is strong and favourite in its own backyard, therefore, to judge which team is better between India and Australia, the two teams should play on neutral venue, former cricketer Dean Jones has suggested. The former Australian batsman said the bouncy and fast pitches will always suit Australian and India would be hard to defeat on rank turners in Asian countries, so a battle on a neutral and balanced track would spell out the correct judgement. India are leading the on-going four-match series 2-0 after thrashing the visitors in Chennai and Hyderabad. Jones said two venues -- Kensington Oval in Barbados and Auckland -- are the best for the contest. "If a match was to be played at Kensington Oval, Barbados, that would be a lot more interesting. This pitch favours the quicks early, but gets lower and spins from day three. This venue would be a ripper to decide on who is the better team," Jones wrote in his column for 'Sydney Morning Herald.' "Australia's record here is four wins from 11 matches - commendable, considering most of the matches were played against the greatest sporting team of all time. While India have not won a Test match here, I feel their attack would worry the Aussies. "India need to bat first here and bat well to win. I still feel the Australian attack would cause problems here, especially if the tide comes in when they bowl. The ball seems to go everywhere when that happens," he wrote. Jones talks about a dozen other venues such as Lord's , Johannesburg, Harare, Dhaka and Colombo but said one or the other suits either Australia or India. So he spoke of Auckland as the other venue, which could help in deciding the better team. "Playing in Auckland would also be an interesting Test. The Aussies have won four matches from seven Tests here, while India have won two from four. Again, batting well in the first innings should help India on this pitch as it will spin later in the match," he writes. "The Australians, of late, have been struggling with the swinging ball and Zaheer Khan and Bhuvneshwar Kumar could cause some headaches here. I still think Australia would win here, although it's India's best chance of a win outside the subcontinent," he added. @-indian express

[game_changerr]

he could have said same last year too

[MCcricket]

This is a repeat thread moderAtor plz merge

[Pagalpanti]

So he chooses the neutral venues which are the most paciest and bouncy tracks which assist their pacers but not our spinners. Galle and UAE also come under neutral venue - #Justsaying

[game_changerr]

This is a repeat thread moderAtor plz merge

wat,,,,i couldnt find similar thread,,,,sry if someone already has made a thread on it

[DomainK]

The thought did not occur when we were losing badly in Australia. Now that Australia faces a whitewash, all of a sudden we need a neutral venue?

[Junyfan]

rubbish from jones

[express bowling]

O.k. Let us play in Bangladesh instead of Australia the next time we play them. :yay:

[vvvslaxman]

Afghanistan.