5 Australian weaknesses that South Africa exploited in the Perth Test

#2 Misfiring Nathan Lyon

Lyon claimed match figures of 2/184

What would a captain expect from his premier spinner? Surely not match figures of 2/184. Yes! Those were the figures of off-spinner Nathan Lyon who looked out of sorts on the WACA strip.

In the first innings, he got some turn and bounce and accounted for Temba Bavuma and Keshav Maharaj as he settled for 2/38. But he wasn’t quite lucky the second time around as that same turn and bounce deserted him. His deliveries were like easy meat for the South African batters who treated him with disdain.

He went wicketless in the second innings giving away 146 runs from his 34 overs at a high economy rate of 4.29. This was also his worst bowling figures in his 58-Test career. With no other spinner in the squad for the second Test, if Lyon’s off-form continues it would surely affect the team and add to their suffering.