Nathan Lyon should have been bowled earlier, feels Shane Warne

Australia’s spin bowling legend Shane Warne feels that Nathan Lyon unsuccessful bowling in the ongoing WACA test has more do with bad captaincy than the ace off-spinner himself. Warne slammed Steve Smith for not bringing Lyon into the attack sooner when a breakthrough was needed in the second innings. The offspinner’s registered 0-146 in the second innings, the worst of his 58-Test career.

The fact that part-time leggie Smith ultimately brought himself on out of desperation and took a wicket with just his seventh ball made Lyon’s fruitless 34 overs of toil look even worse. He is going through an interesting lean patch this summer. The lead spinner in the team played with a reputation of being successful at home but the recent dull performances have become a worry for the Australian think-tank considering the tour of India.

There was a feeling on the recent tour of Sri Lanka that Smith and coach Darren Lehmann may have lost some faith in Lyon’s bowling in subcontinental conditions. That doubt appeared to manifest itself in post-Test comments from captain and coach that singled Lyon out for blame even though the batsmen — like in Perth — were the genesis of Australia’s problems. His outstanding record of 213 wickets as Australia’s most prolific finger spinner speaks for itself, but that may not be enough if the captain doesn’t have the confidence to throw him the ball.

Warne was highly critical of Smith waiting until after lunch on day 3 of the Test — when South African pair JP Duminy and Dean Elgar were well set on their way to match-turning hundreds — to bring Lyon into the attack. Australia’s greatest spin-bowling mind said such treatment would be rocking Lyon’s confidence.

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“He bowled 12 overs on a 37-degree day and the quicks bowled their hearts out,” Warne said on Channel Nine.

“When the captain doesn’t bowl you in the first session and tries everyone three or four times in their spells, then throws you the ball … as a spinner you’re like an afterthought.

“(It’s as if) ‘we’ve tried everyone else, why don’t you have a bowl. To me, it’s bad captaincy because you’re trying to get the best out of the players. To bowl him for 12 overs, his confidence will be low.”

Smith defended his use of Lyon by justifying that the ball was reversing on day three and the seamers were always the sensible option. That justification was backed by Lehmann and also Duminy. But there is something that feels not quite right in the dynamic between captain and spinner.

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Predecessor Michael Clarke would go to Lyon regularly and without hesitation in Test matches, and also felt that Smith should have been bowling his spinner earlier in the piece in Perth. But whatever the reasons are, Smith is not rushing to Lyon, and with recent Test player Jon Holland taking a Sheffield Shield bag this weekend, time could be running out for Australia’s greatest off-spinner.