The premier Australian spinner, Nathan Lyon opined that Steve Smith’s catch to end the fighting knock of Cheteshwar Pujara on Day 2 turned the game in Australia’s favor in Indore. With the hosts looking to get a substantial lead in the Indore Test against Australia, Pujara played a gritty knock for the Indian team. But just before the close of play, Lyon got the prized wicket and the off-spinner was helped by some stupendous reflex work from Smith.
Pujara tried to flick the ball away, but Smith dived onto his right to take a sharp catch. After Pujara went back to the pavilion, the last two Indian wickets fell quickly. Lyon said that anyone else in the Australian team would not have been able to pull off the catch.
WATCH – Steve Smith Takes An Exceptional Catch To End Pujara’s Innings
Talking about the same during the post-day press conference, as per the quotes in India Today, Nathan Lyon said, “It was massive. To be honest with you, and this is no disrespect to anyone else on the team, I don’t think anyone else is catching it. That’s just me bowling from one end and looking up and seeing Steve Smith at slip or leg slip and having that confidence as a bowler.”
He further added, “Yes, he has dropped a couple here and there, but I wouldn’t trade him for anyone. It shows the quality of cricketer he is that we see at training the different methods he is coming up with to try and get better and try and improve. This is someone who has played 95 Test matches. Hats off to Smithy, he did all the work, I’m not surprised but it was a massive moment to finish off the day strongly.”
Nathan Lyon also showered praises on Cheteshwar Pujara, who scored 59 runs off 142 balls with the help of five fours and one six.
WATCH – Rohit Sharma Asked The Indian Batter To Play Aggressively
Elaborating the same, Nathan Lyon said, “I won’t describe him as flashy or anything like that. But he’s an unbelievable cricketer. I’ve got a lot of respect for the way he goes about it. Nothing fazes him, whether it’s bouncing at the Gabba or spinning in Indore. He seems to find a way and a method.”
Australia needs 76 runs to win the third Test and make it 1-2 in the four-match Test series.
