That's the best Nathan Lyon has bowled for a long time: Darren Lehmann

The Australian offspinner’s place in the Test squad was apparently in jeopardy following his unimpressive performances in the Test series against South Africa. Interim chairman of Selectors Trevor Hohns also hinted ahead of the Adelaide Test that Nathan Lyon might well have been dropped had Steve O’Keefe not suffered a calf injury moments before the squad was announced.

Though Lyon might have been struggling during that time but four Tests later he has earned praises from within the Aussie camp. He wasn’t actually a match winner at the SCG but his important wickets at crucial junctures of the game helped Australia register a comprehensive victory. The selectors will be pretty happy with Lyon’s performance ahead of the tough Indian tour and we might see him and O’Keefe bowling in tandem during the India tour.

“I thought Nathan was very good in Melbourne and brilliant in this Test match,” coach and selector Darren Lehmann were quoted as saying by the ESPN Cricinfo. “That’s the best he’s bowled for a long period of time. I think he’ll admit that. He used his variation really well, bowled well to right and left-handers, bowled over and around, and chopped and changed, which was really pleasing.

“Sometimes he gets into the one way, he just wants to bowl over the wicket all the time. He was exceptional in this game and bowled really well. I’m looking forward to that sort of combination going to India.”

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Ashton Agar can also be a probability for the Indian tour and Lehmann also added that all-rounder Glenn Maxwell can also be in the reckoning for a Test call-up after they decided to go with an extended squad to cover all the eventualities.

“He’ll certainly come under consideration with India coming up,” Lehmann said on ABC Radio on Saturday morning. “We know he plays spin bowling well and offers that extra dimension, and is a gun fielder. We want to see him make runs, and he’s had a reasonable start to the BBL. That’s the challenge for him, to keep going, and then hopefully [earn a place] in the one-day squad.”