Nathan Lyon has produced a moment of absolute magic at the Adelaide Oval on Day 4 of the Adelaide Test between England and Australia, delivering a ball that will be replayed in coaching manuals for years to come.
Nathan Lyon’s fiery spin forces Harry Brook’s departure on Day 4 of Adelaide Test
Having already troubled Harry Brook with his flight and dip earlier in the over, Lyon switched to around the wicket and tossed this one up with generous air, tempting the batter into a drive. Brook, perhaps anticipating a straighter delivery, planted his front foot and aimed to punch through the covers, but he failed to account for the prodigious revolutions Lyon had imparted on the Kookaburra.
The ball drifted in beautifully to hold its line in the air before biting into the crumbling Day 4 surface and ripping sharply away from the right-hander. It was a classic off-spinner’s dismissal, beating the bat not just by a fraction, but by a comfortable distance, before crashing into the top of the off-stump with a sickening sound that silenced the Barmy Army. The sheer extent of the turn left Brook looking back at the pitch in disbelief, his aggressive stay ended by a piece of bowling artistry that exposed the vulnerability of England’s “Bazball” approach against high-quality spin on a wearing track. Lyon’s roar of delight told the story; he knew he had just removed the biggest threat to Australia’s dominance with a delivery that was simply unplayable.
Here’s the video:
Ashes 3rd Test: Lyon spins web around England as visitors crumble in pursuit of record 435
The third Test at the Adelaide Oval has swung decisively in Australia’s favor on Day 4, with Lyon delivering a masterclass in spin bowling to dismantle England’s middle order. Chasing a colossal target of 435 for victory, set up earlier by Travis Head’s marathon 170 and Alex Carey’s rapid 72 which lifted Australia to 349 in their second innings, the visitors have crumbled under the mounting pressure and a deteriorating surface. While Brook offered brief resistance with a counter-attacking 45 (62), his dismissal in the 56th over (55.4) proved to be the fatal blow, as Lyon’s drift and sharp turn left the young batter bewildered and his off-stump pegged back.
This critical strike came just four overs after the GOAT had already removed England captain Ben Stokes for a mere 5 (18) in the 52nd over (51.6), producing a magic ball that squared him up completely and rattled the timber. England, now reeling at 158/5 and still trailing by 277 runs, face an insurmountable mountain to climb with their recognized batting lineup decimated against the pink ball under lights. Lyon’s current spell of 3/42 underscores his dominance, as he exploited the footmarks created by the pacers to devastating effect, leaving the tourists Bazball philosophy in tatters. With the tail exposed and Pat Cummins rotating his bowlers aggressively, Australia is now on the verge of taking an unassailable 3-0 series lead to retain the urn.
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