India v Australia: Nathan Lyon lashes out at Aussie selectors

Spinner Nathan Lyon has publicly challenged the Australian selectors’ decision to axe him for last week’s Second Test against India.

Coach Mickey Arthur said Lyon’s self-belief was down and that he needed to tweak his technique.

Axing him had little effect on the result, the Aussies losing by an innings and 155 runs, and Lyon hit back today, saying: “To bowl Sachin Tendulkar through the gate you must be doing something right.”

Asked whether he was suffering a crisis of confidence, the 25-year-old responded: “No, I reckon it’s gone up if anything, bowling the best batsman in the world through the gate. As an off-spinner growing up that’s what you dream of. My confidence has gone up a level.”

Lyon took four of Australia’s 12 wickets in the eight-wicket First Test loss in Chennai but was ditched ahead of the Hyderabad clash.

“I went for a few runs here and there, but bowling against the best bats in the world in their conditions, they were obviously going to come hard at me playing one spinner in the side,” said Lyon.

“The technical stuff . . . it’s all the same, I haven’t changed anything from when I first started bowling for Australia since I was 16.

“Yes, I bowled one maiden in Chennai but they are the best players of spin and that was quite a difficult pitch to bowl on.”