Border-Gavaskar Trophy: Star Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon ready to resume Optus Stadium love affair

Star Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon is ready to resume his love affair with Perth and Optus Stadium when he steps onto the field against India on Friday. The fan favourite has become the Perth maestro since Test cricket moved to Optus Stadium from Western Australia’s traditional home of cricket, the WACA. His over-spin and the extra bounce of traditional Perth pitches have been a nightmare combination for visiting batters, with Lyon now having more than 30 wickets at the venue. And he’s primed to add to his 116 wickets against India. “I love the place, it’s no secret I love bowling out here,” he said at the West Test launch at the ground on Monday. Lyon captured his 500th Test scalp, Faheem Ashraf on review lbw, at Optus Stadium against Pakistan last summer in fitting scenes celebrated across the country. It also means this summer’s Border-Gavaskar series will have the rare distinction of featuring two off-spinners with over 500 wickets, with Indian champion Ravichandran Ashwin having also achieved the remarkable milestone. “It’s pretty amazing that we’re going to have two finger spinners with over 530 wickets competing in the series; I think that’s going to be a first in cricket history, I dare say,” Lyon said. “I’ve said it publicly before I’ve got nothing but respect for Ash and the way he’s gone about it. “He’s probably one of my biggest coaches without him knowing it. “I feel like the players you player against and with are your best coaches and I’ve felt like I’ve learnt so much off Ash.”