He's the undisputed crowd favourite but Australian test spinner Nathan 'Gary' Lyon is at high risk of being knocked from his perch as the nation's top spinner after another poor series against Pakistan.Despite earning cult status through his spritely on-field mannerisms and the laconic repetition of his nickname 'Gary' by his teammates (an opaque reference to former AFL star turned commentator Gary Lyon), Lyon has been peppered by a Pakistani outfit very adept at playing spin.
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His figures across the two test series this summer, against South Africa and Pakistan, averages at a blown-out 66.66 runs per wicket (or 9/600). In the first innings of his make or break second-test against Pakistan he went for 1/115. He also performed poorly on the dusty tracks of Sri Lanka where Australia were spanked 3-0 by the seventh ranked test nation to begin the summer.The concern is that with Australia heading to the sub-continent next, where they will confront spinner-friendly dust bowls and the technically gifted spin-playing number one ranked test team, India, they will need more from their tweakers than Lyon has offered over the past eight tests.
Despite taking more than 200 test wickets, Lyon is most likely to be ousted by rival left-arm off spinner (orthodox) Steve O'Keefe who is considerably less experienced though has a far superior bowling average at 35.60 runs per wicket.'Gary' has the second innings today at the MCG to prove himself (should Australia get the chance to bowl) and the all-important deciding third test against Pakistan at the traditionally spinner-friendly Sydney Cricket Ground. If he hasn't already been dropped.