Despite often flying under the radar in discussions about India's all-round options, Axar Patel brings a rare skill set -- a spinner, who bashes spin with his bat, while being a reliable left-arm spinner.
Images from Day 2 of the first Test between Australia and India in Perth on Saturday.
The strategy of dropping Nathan Lyon and opting for a twin spin attack, in the form of the inexperienced Xavier Doherty and Glenn Maxwell, for the Test completely backfired on the team.
The camaraderie between Indian pacer Harshit Rana and Australian speedster Mitchell Starc, former Kolkata Knight Riders teammates, stood out on Day 2.
Nathan Lyon walked into the record books with career-best figures of 8 for 50 as India suffered another batting debacle.
Australia spinner Nathan Lyon has some reservations about meddling with the traditions of the longest form of cricket but cannot wait to get a pink ball in his hands in the world's first day-night Test against New Zealand next week.
In his 13th pink ball Test since 2015, the 34-year-old Australian pacer has taken 72 wickets at an average of 17.
'He has not lived up to expectations.' 'If this was Shubman Gill from Tamil Nadu, he would have been dropped.'
Former wicketkeeper Brad Haddin says Australia missed the experience and skills of senior spinner Nathan Lyon during their unsuccessful World T20 campaign in India. Lyon was kept out in favour of young spinners Adam Zampa and Ashton Agar, while allrounder Glenn Maxwell also chipped in with his part-timers. Rookie leg-spinner Zampa was a revelation for the Aussies, claiming five wickets in four matches in the tournament. But Australia's other spin options were used sparingly throughout the tournament; Agar bowled just one over in his only match against New Zealand, which went for 18, while Maxwell sent down eight overs in four matches, taking two wickets and conceding 7.6 runs an over. Australia suffered defeats to New Zealand and hosts India to be knocked out in the group stage and on wickets the supported spin bowling, Haddin says Lyon was sorely missed.
'It's unfair to disrupt the balance of the team just to accommodate a big-name player who is out of form.'
Cameron Green will change Australia's bowling dynamics for the upcoming five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy and may increase spinner Nathan Lyon's workload
Ligue 1 leaders Olympique Lyon lost 2-0 to Lille at the Stade de France on Saturday and saw their advantage at the top cut to just one point.
Out-of-form skipper Rohit Sharma's batting position will be in focus against a dangerous Australia
Off-spinner Nathan Lyon claimed career-best figures of eight for 50 to help Australia bundle out India for 189 on the first day of the second Test at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Saturday.
From a bowler's paradise on Day 1 to a batting haven on Day 2, the Perth pitch has defied expectations.
Nathan McSweeney, who opened in the first three Tests with little success, has been dropped.
Himanshu Singh said the confidence stemming from his experience of bowling against Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma during the pre-season net sessions in Chennai is now reflecting in his outings in the Ranji Trophy.
'I like it when opposition guys try to attack me and try to whack me out of the attack.'
Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon said he made use of his biggest weapon -- bounce -- as he took four final-session wickets to halt India's progress in the fourth and final Test on Sunday.
A sympathetic Nathan Lyon is not too worried about the Australian batsmen's abject first-innings surrender in the third Test against India, saying 'success for them is around the corner'.
Nathan Lyon claimed six for 60 to bowl Australia to an emphatic series-equalling seven-wicket victory over Bangladesh in the second and final Test on Thursday.
At this point it is still anyone's game, with a draw also an option, says Prem Panicker in his analysis of Day 4.
Ravichandran Ashwin has picked up a record 420 wickets in 71 Tests played in Asia -- the most by an Indian bowler.
Manchester City's spending of more than 180 million pounds ($223.58 million) was the second-biggest outlay ever worldwide by a club in the January transfer window.
Images from Day 3 of the first Test between Australia and India in Perth on Sunday.
Bumrah now has 36 wickets on Australian soil, and the batter he's dismissed most times is his opposite number Pat Cummins (6).
Hulk signs two-year contract with Atletico Mineiro.
Former opener Matthew Hayden also took aim at Cummins, criticising the field placements after Kohli's arrival in the middle.
Substitute Moussa Dembele scored twice as Olympique Lyonnais stunned Manchester City on Saturday to move into the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League.
IMAGES from the soccer matches played across leagues on Friday
Former Pakistan leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed feels the categorisation of Test and limited overs spinners is the need of the hour. According to Mushtaq, skill-wise, Lyon and Ashwin are on par with greats like Saqlain Mushtaq and Muttiah Muralitharan but not best suited for the one-day game.
Olympique Lyon's Argentine striker Lisandro Lopez scored twice to help his side beat Girondins Bordeaux 3-1 in a lively first leg of the Champions League's first all-French quarter-final on Tuesday.
Australian media has heaped praise on off-spinner Nathan Lyon, whose seven-wicket haul helped his team post a thrilling win against India on the final day of the first Test in Adelaide.
Australia coach Justin Langer wants off-spinner Nathan Lyon, who has dismissed Virat Kohli seven times in Tests, to continue his good record against the India captain.
Australian spinner Nathan Lyon wants the selectors to go with a two-spin attack against India in the upcoming four-Test series, which gets underway with the opening Test in Chennai on February 22.
Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon said officials have done a good job.
Images from Day 3 of the fourth Test between Australia and India at the MCG on Saturday.
Olympique Lyon and Fenerbahce filled the last two Champions League knockout places after wins over Rangers and CSKA Moscow.
