Shreyas Iyer punishes Aussie spinners in drawn contest
MUMBAI: Australia drew their three-day tour game against India A at Brabourne on Sunday, but there are some concerns that will leave skipper Steven Smith worried going into the Test series from February 23.
Australia ended their second innings at 110 for four after both skippers mutually decided to call off play.
The biggest point to ponder for the Australian team management was the ruthless manner in which India’s domestic batsmen Shreyas Iyer — who slammed his highest first-class score of unbeaten 202 and second consecutive ton after the Bangladesh tour match —, and K Gowtham (74 off 68 balls) decimated their spinners Nathan Lyon and Stephen O’Keefe.
Although Lyon claimed four wickets for 162 and O’Keefe took three for 101, the hammering Australia’s frontline spinners received was not an encouraging sign for the visitors ahead of the Test series.
It also lends weight to coach Darren Lehmann’s assessment that bowling is Australia’s biggest concern.
After O’Keefe and Mitchell Marsh claimed the wickets of Rishabh Pant (21) and Ishan Kishan (4) within a span of 19 balls in the first session, it was Iyer and Gowtham show, as India A added 171 runs in 32 overs to their overnight 176 for four till lunch break.
Frustration was writ large on Lyon’s face after Iyer slammed two boundaries off his over. He kicked the turf after the second boundary went past the gully fielder. His first spell ended with 24 runs in four overs.
Lyon’s second spell was no different either as he conceded 57 runs in six overs. Iyer took 16 runs in the first over after he was brought back into the attack. He then slammed his fifth six of the innings with the ball sailing over midwicket.
It wasn’t just Iyer who was dominating Lyon. Gowtham, who missed almost two days’ play after suffering a hamstring injury, was equally brutal against Lyon. He smashed three sixes --- two over long on and a straight one over the bowler’s head.
Gowtham’s attacking display did not go down well with Lyon. “He was not that happy when Gowtham came in and started attacking because he (Gowtham) was having an injury. He (Lyon) was really disappointed when Gowtham hit him. Lyon started talking a bit about him. He asked me ‘who is this guy’? I told him, he’s an off-spinner,” said Iyer.
CONCERN The biggest worry for the visitors is the way India A batsmen Iyer and Gowtham decimated their spinners
FRUSTRATION WAS WRIT LARGE ON LYON’S FACE AFTER IYER HIT TWO FOURS OFF HIS OVER. HE KICKED THE TURF AFTER THE SECOND BOUNDARY WENT PAST THE GULLY FIELDER