Lyon eager to cut Indians' to size on home turf in Adelaide

Adelaide, Jan.21 (ANI): Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon is keen to use home advantage to cut the Indians to size, and give his side a four nil white wash.

Lyon knows every blade of grass on the Adelaide Oval, as in the past, he use to arrive just after dawn each morning to cut the outfield, even though his main job was to tend to the outside ovals.

"We have other grounds we look after but he wanted to be here from the start to the end. He wanted to experience an Adelaide Oval Test," said head curator Damian Hough.

The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Hough, as saying further: "He came here from Canberra with a pretty good reputation as a cricketer but also as a turfy. I thought, 'Oh well, I'll give him a go.' I knew he was a cricketer but I didn't realise he'd be playing for Australia."

Lyon is tipped to return to the attack in his adopted home town, in conditions he knows well.

He's been learning on the job ever since his successful Test debut in Sri Lanka five months ago, and will doubtless take his first home Test in his laconic stride.

"It [last summer's Adelaide Test] was my first ever Test match and rocking up at 5.30 every morning to cut the ground was something pretty special," Lyon said.

He added: "It's a great place to play cricket but I'm not worrying about the greenkeeping side of things now, I'm totally focused on the Test match coming up. I've got to pinch myself, but in saying that, I've played nine Test matches now and I'm confident in my own skill-set. I will be preparing to play as everyone else will be in the squad."

Though Lyon has two wickets for 180 runs from his first two outings against India, Michael Clarke and coach Mickey Arthur are pleased with his progress and believe Adelaide will present his best chance to shine.

Coach Mickey Arthur said: "He hasn't played a major role because he just hasn't bowled enough. He's such a nice chap, he's taken everything on board and he's worked extremely hard. I am hoping he gets the rewards in Adelaide, and I'm pretty sure he will." (ANI)