More concerned with Australian dressing room than Virat Kohli, says Nathan Lyon

While everybody kept talking about the new Perth Stadium’s wicket which was predicted to aid the fast bowlers, it was a spinner – Nathan Lyon – who stole the show on Day 3 by picking the first five-wicket haul of the match. The off-spinner exploited the rough patches of the wicket to pick up 5 wickets for 67 runs, polishing off India’s tail to give his team a vital 43-run lead in the first innings.

Lyon also took a six-fer in the second innings of the Adelaide Test and has 13 scalps in all the series so far. Tim Paine will be looking to the New South Wales bowler to do the team more favour in the second innings in Perth and bring the hosts back into the series,  they are trailing 0-1. Australia ended Day 3 at 132 for 4 after a mini slide in the top order to extend their lead to 175.

The two overnight batsmen – Usman Khawaja and Paine – did well to continue with their partnership till lunch after which India hit back and the hosts were all out for 243. India’s joy of restricting Australia did not last too long as the hosts soon reduced them to 13 for 2 in the chase of the target of 287. In between all the action in the tug-of-war Test, Indian captain Virat Kohli made the headlines a few times over instances like not walking off after edging and going after Paine verbally.

Lyon, however, decided to stay clear of controversies when asked about Kohli’s dismissal in the first innings and his disappointment over the umpire’s decision. The Indian captain was caught in the slips by Peter Handscomb and the catch was very low to be clear though the verdict, including that of the third umpire, went against the centurion. Former Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson also tweeted questioning Kohli’s gesture of not walking off instantly, earning the wrath of the Indian fans.

‘Kohli plays on emotion’

“Virat Kohli is a great player. He plays on emotion we all know that. To be honest I am not really concerned how Virat Kohli reacts or how he conducts himself. I am just worried about how we are controlling the Australian dressing room,” Lyon told the media after third day’s play. The Australian cricket is yet to fully overcome the blow it received during the Test series in South Africa earlier this year when two of its top players were banned for a year in connection to a ball-tampering scandal. The side is so much under pressure over its on-field conduct that it is keeping no stone unturned to leave a fair impression.

Lyon also thanked Sachin Tendulkar for the praise he got from the latter as a “very special spinner”.

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