India made a huge mistake by not playing a specialist spinner: Lyon

Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon, who took five for 67 in India's first innings, said that the visitors had made a big mistake by not including a specialist spinner in their side for the second Test match at Perth.

Stating that handling the spinners on the last two days of the Test match in a Perth wicket that has developed wide cracks won’t be an easy task, Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon bluntly pointed out that India made a big mistake by not picking a specialist spinner in their team.

With India batting last on a tricky surface, chasing anything above 250 will be a big ask. Lyon said: "The wicket seems like it's starting to play a few more little tricks. We were expecting the cracks to play a little bit more, but with that rain yesterday it probably softened our ball up quite a fair bit. I know as bowlers the ball in cricket terms felt like it had no air left in it, so it lost a little bit of zip off the wicket.

"But we were pretty happy with the way we bowled and we know that come the second dig we can bowl much better than that. So we can take a few lessons off that first innings," he added.

When asked if India had made a mistake in not playing a full-time spinner, Lyon replied, "yes!"

Ironically, Lyon emerged as Australia’s highest-wicket taker in first innings, returning with impressive figures of 5 for 67 in a match where India went in with four quicks.

"I thought we were well off in the first innings of this game, so to bowl India out for 283 was a pretty good effort especially when you've got someone who scores a big hundred.

"So it gives us a lot of confidence that we weren't at our best and we were able to take 10 wickets for 280," he added.

Australia are 132 for 4, with a lead of 175 runs to play with. Even if opener Aaron Finch, who retired hurt after being hit on his finger by Mohammed Shami in the 13th over is unable to bat, the hosts should still be confident of stretching lead close to 250.