Nathan Lyon hopes to bounce back in second outing against Pakistan

AAP

25 Dec, 2016 08:23 PM3 mins to read

Australia's Nathan Lyon appeals without success for the wicket of Pakistan's Asad Shafiq during the first cricket test between Australia and Pakistan in Brisbane. Photo/AP Photos

The stage is set for Nathan Lyon to redeem himself at the Boxing Day Test, Australian captain Steve Smith says.

Lyon was embraced by the Gabba faithful as a cult hero during the first test against Pakistan, but delivered another lacklustre bowling performance, finishing with figures of 0-31 and 2-108.

The offspinner has been unable to find his best form for most of the year, including Australia's disastrous tour of Sri Lanka, and was almost dropped in favour of uncapped quick Chadd Sayers for the Brisbane test.

Smith's apparent reluctance to throw Lyon the ball in Brisbane also raised eyebrows, especially with a tour of India on the horizon.

In a match where front-line quicks Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood each bowled 56 overs, Lyon finished with just 40 to his name at one of his favourite grounds and was criticised for not bowling more aggressively.

Asked whether Lyon was likely to bowl more often in Melbourne, Smith gave no assurances.

But he said the conditions at the Melbourne Cricket Ground should be ripe for Lyon to return to his best, with the 29-year-old to benefit from a return to the red ball and what's expected to be a spin-friendly pitch.

"When there is a bit of grass here, the ball can take a little bit of spin, so we'll have to sum that up and see how we go," Smith said yesterday. "Nathan's working hard on his bowling.

"I thought,during the last game, he bowled some good spells and some spells that weren't as good. He's working hard and he bowled well here last year, so hopefully we can see some more of the same."

Matthew Wade's encouraging cries of "nice, Garry" from behind the stumps, when Lyon bowled in Brisbane, caught fire on social media and are likely to be celebrated just as loudly at the MCG.

With speculation Australia could look to left-arm spinner Steve O'Keefe for February's tour of India, Smith said he had spent time with Lyon, working on how to manage conditions on the subcontinent, after his struggles in Sri Lanka.

"I think it's completely different to the way you bowl here in Australia, [where] you've got to try and do people in the air and with your flight, because there's usually not too much off the wicket," he said.