Lyon: Mirpur Test evenly balanced

Published at 12:47 am August 28th, 2017
Last updated at 01:09 am August 28th, 2017

Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon believes the first Test match against Bangladesh at the end of day one is finely balanced. The Aussie bowlers had done enough to restrict Bangladesh for 260 runs in their first innings only to see an early failure with the bat. Bangladesh ended the day on a high note as the home side dismissed three Australia batsmen with only 18 runs on the board from nine overs. “It's in the balance to be fair. You can probably look at Bangladesh who have the momentum at the moment. To lose the toss and bowl a team out for 260 or under 300 is always a good result for a bowling team. It's not ideal losing three wickets but that’s the game. You’ve got to give them credit, they batted well and they bowled well,” Lyon told the media during the post-day press conference in Mirpur’s Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Sunday.

Also read: Bangladesh fight back with early strikes after posting 260 against Australia

“Now it’s our chance to fight back and really test ourselves in these conditions. We've got two very good batsmen (at the crease), one’s the No 1 batter in the world (captain Steve Smith) and (opener) Matt Renshaw is a very talented young cricketer. We've got two very good batters there at the moment, we've just got to work hard, bat long partnerships but there are no demons in that pitch yet so it’s a good opportunity for our batters,” he said. Bangladesh were in a similar situation to Australia as the host lost top-order batsmen Soumya Sarkar, Imrul Kayes and Sabbir Rahman with only 10 runs on the board within four overs. But the two experienced men in the camp, opening batsman Tamim Iqbal and all-rounder Shakib al Hasan, handled the pressure and took control of the debacle as the fourth wicket duo added 155 to the board to boost the innings.

REPORT: Australia lose three quick wickets after dismissing Bangladesh for 260 on day one of first Test: https://t.co/flfPs9QOID #BANvAUS pic.twitter.com/Ti0zrrpSMn
— Sky Sports Cricket? (@SkyCricket) August 27, 2017

“I think the two guys (Tamim and Shakib) batted very brave. They took the game on, which you have to do in these types of conditions. I think on this wicket, if you bat well in partnerships and bat together, you can score runs. I'm going to sit here and give them credit. They're two good players and they played some incredible shots out there and took the game on. Hats off to them. It's now our opportunity to take the game on in our first innings and see where we get to,” said the 29-year old. On the day, the spinners from both sides took nine out of the 13 wickets to fall.

Also read: Smith surprised at 2-0 prediction in favour of Bangladesh

The wicket worked wonders to aid the spinners and Lyon said the visitor are not surprised. “The wicket was interesting, there was obviously a lot of spin for a day one wicket but it was a sub-continental wicket. We were expecting something like that. I know talking to big Josh [Hazlewood] and Patty (Pat Cummins), it's probably on the slower side for a wicket we're used to. But it’s the same for both teams. The best team (are) going to have to adapt to the condition as soon as possible,” he concluded.