Head and Lyon hand Australia the edge

By the time Lyon led his team off Arun Jaitley Stadium after Patel and Ashwin fell as part of a late flurry of wickets with the second new ball, Australia’s lead was just one – but every run will count in this game.

The tension in the India camp was evident when Virat Kohli turned around several times to glare at local umpire Nitin Menon after failing to overturn an lbw decision to Matthew Kuhnemann. The incident is likely to come under the scrutiny of the match referee.

Lyon has claimed larger hauls but few have been more important than his 22nd Test five-for, coming with the heavyweight series precariously placed for his country.

The man dubbed the GOAT appeared short of a gallop in the first Test after almost four weeks off but this was Lyon at his best.

Nathan Lyon in action. Credit:Pankaj Nangia, Getty Images

India were in control at 0/46 before Lyon set off a clump of wickets in the top order by dismissing KL Rahul, who was trapped in front to the straight one. It was part of a stunning burst of four wickets in 26 balls in the morning session, which included the prized scalp of Rohit Sharma, whose century was pivotal in the first Test.

Though the pitch was expected to play low and slow, there was enough in the track to bring in Lyon’s bounce and drop, which, combined with near faultless accuracy, made him a constant threat.

Operating from around the wicket, Lyon challenged the inside edge of the right-hander with his ability to either spin the ball back or straighten down the line a la Ashwin. Three of his wickets were from bowleds or lbws.

Vindicating selectors’ gamble to play three frontline tweakers, spin claimed nine of the 10 wickets, and Cummins used himself for just 13 of the 84 overs.

Todd Murphy was not as potent as his debut Test but, after his belated introduction in the 25th over, hardly bowled a poor delivery in another strong showing.

He was rewarded with the important scalps of Ravindra Jadeja with the sort of slider that has brought Jadeja scores of wickets in this part of the world. His dismissal of Patel, whose cross-batted bullet found Cummins at mid-on, gave him a return that reflected the control he displayed.

Debutant Matthew Kuhnemann was targeted by Patel, who launched him for several bombs, but did not drop his bundle, as seen when he came back with a second new ball to dismiss a slogging Mohammed Shami.

Whatever happens from here, he will forever be able to tell his friends, his family, that his first Test victim, Kohli, was one of the all-time greats.