XtraTime Web Desk: Australian off spinner Nathan Lyon on Tuesday said it will be interesting to see how Virat Kohli adapt playing in empty stands during the forthcoming test series against India later this year Down Under. The off spinner was having a video conferencing via zoom from his home in Sydney due to the cormavirus lockdown.
“He”s probably good enough to adapt to any scenario. But I was talking to Mitch Starc the other day and we actually said that if we are playing with no crowd, it”ll be quite amazing to see Virat trying to rev up the (empty) seats,” Lyon said in the media interaction organized by ”cricket.com.au”.
The Indian captain does get pumped up with the crowd support from the stands.
“It”s going to be a little bit different, but Virat is a superstar. He”ll be able to adapt to any climate that we”re able to play in,” Lyon added.
Lyon remains hopeful that the home series against India will go ahead, with or without fans.
“I haven”t thought about no crowds or massive crowds, it”s just about the opportunity of playing against India again,” said Lyon.
Sports calendars across the world have been affected due to the coronavirus pandemic. Last month, Australia”s ODI series against New Zealand was called off after the first match. The 32-year-old Lyon is still excited by the prospect of the series against India.
“I”m excited about the prospect of India coming out to Australia, it”s up there with the biggest series alongside the Ashes. They”re an absolute powerhouse of the cricket world, and to have those guys out here is going to be fantastic,” he said.
Australia tasted their first Test series loss to India on home turf in 2018-19 when Kohli”s men handed them a 2-1 defeat. However, with the likes of Steve Smith and David Warner, who were under suspension last time, and Marnus Labuschagne, the Australian batting unit seems pretty solid now.
“They had the wood over us last time they came over here but we”re a much stronger Australian cricket side at the moment, and I”m just unbelievably excited about playing them here at home,” said Lyon.