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As the anticipation builds for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, Australia’s veteran off-spinner Nathan Lyon has predicted the scoreline of the highly anticipated five-match Test series between Australia and India. In a candid conversation with Alyssa Healy on the Willow Talk podcast, Lyon shared his thoughts about Australia’s chances, and his excitement for the series, which has become one of the fiercest rivalries in Test cricket.
Nathan Lyon’s excitement for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy
During the podcast, Lyon expressed his excitement for the upcoming series, revealing that he had been thinking about the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for a while now.
“It’s been 10 years since we have won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. I started thinking about this series when England were over in India,” said Lyon. He highlighted his love for the game and how the series against India is something that has been on his mind for quite some time.
For Australia, reclaiming the Border-Gavaskar Trophy has been a challenging task, as India has dominated the rivalry in recent years. Lyon, who has been a key figure in Australia’s bowling attack, knows the significance of this series for both teams, making his prediction even more intriguing.
Lyon shares his prediction for BGT 2024-25
In a bold declaration, Lyon confidently predicted that Australia would emerge victorious with a 5-0 scoreline. He stated: “My prediction is 5-0 to Australia.”
His optimism reflects the confidence that the Australian camp seems to have ahead of the series, despite the fact that winning in India remains one of the toughest tasks in world cricket. India’s home dominance, especially in Test matches, has been formidable. However, Lyon believes that if Australia’s top-order batters can deliver, they stand a great chance of turning the tide.
Also READ: Aussie icon Ricky Ponting predicts the scoreline of Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25
Lyon highlights a way to counter India’s bowling attack
Lyon emphasized that Australia’s chances of success heavily rely on their top-order batters scoring big runs. He specifically mentioned that Australia will need centuries, not just in the low hundreds, but big, match-winning scores to counter India’s strong pace attack led by Jasprit Bumrah.
The off-spinner pointed out the likes of Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, and Travis Head as key players in this effort.
“We need big runs. We need the guys who are talented enough to get the hundred. The likes of Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, and Travis Head, all the top order. I don’t want 101 or 107, I want 180 and 200,” he added.
Can Australia break the 10-Year drought?
Notably, Australia last won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in 2014-15, and since then, India have retained the trophy in both home and away series. The 2024-25 series presents an opportunity for Australia to reclaim the title, but it won’t come easy against an Indian side that has been dominant at home for the past decade.
Lyon’s bold prediction of a 5-0 whitewash is sure to spark debates among fans and analysts alike, but it also reflects the growing confidence in the Australian camp. With players like Smith and Labuschagne in fine form and Head emerging as a reliable top-order batter, Australia certainly have the firepower. However, India’s depth in both batting and bowling, especially with a lethal pace attack led by Bumrah, presents a formidable challenge.
