Lyon earns high praise for stellar series

Nathan Lyon banished his demons of Australia's disastrous Test tour of India in 2013 to produce his best away series in the Baggy Green four years later in the subcontinent.

The 2013 tour was a rollercoaster for Lyon, who was dropped after the first Test in Chennai, returned for the third Test in Mohali – where four teammates were suspended for failing to complete their 'homework' – before capturing a then career-best haul of 7-94 in the final Test in Delhi.

Australia were thrashed 4-0 in what was Mickey Arthur's last Test series as coach and Lyon was dropped again for the opening Ashes Test in England just a few months later.

That difficult time is now a faint memory for the 29-year-old who has just completed his best Test series on foreign soil.

Lyon finished the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series as Australia's joint leading wicket-taker alongside spin twin Stephen O'Keefe, with both tweakers taking 19 wickets in the four match battle from which India prevailed with a 2-1 result.

Lyon's average of 25.26 is his best in any series of three or more Tests, home or away, and claimed two five-wicket hauls including a spellbinding 8-50 on day of the second Test in Bengaluru.

After Australia were humbled 3-0 in Sri Lanka last year – where Lyon had 16 wickets – coach Darren Lehmann publicly pointed out the off-spinner's poor record in the subcontinent and called for improvement.

In the wake of the Qantas Tour of India, Lehmann could not be more glowing in his assessment of Australia's No.1 Test spinner.

"He was fantastic. I actually think his day two bowling (in Dharamsala where he bagged 5-92) was the best I have ever seen him bowl for Australia," Lehmann said in the wake of the fourth Test.

"It's a big call when someone has got 8-50 and (7-94) the previous tour.

"But the way he's changed. He's changed his variation. I think he has been brilliant this tour."

Lyon is the poster boy for captain Steve Smith's post-Hobart plea for his players to be resilient and adaptable.

Smith, like Lehmann, has called out Lyon in the past for his performances, but the way Lyon quickly altered his approach according to the pitch and the opposition's tactics earned full marks from the skipper.

"The way that he has been able to adapt and bowl the way we want him to bowl," Smith said of the off-spinner after the fourth Test.

Quick Single: Day a killer Lyon eight India

"He has got two five-wicket hauls, both in the first innings of the game, he was able to change things up, when guys were sweeping him he was willing to throw the fast one in to stop them and make them defend, things like that.

"It's good that these guys are thinking about the game and finding ways to have success in these conditions.

"It's been a great learning curve for all the boys in the room.

"They are hurting now, it's always tough when you lose a series at the final hurdle but the guys are going to take so much out of this series."

2017 Border-Gavaskar Test series

Feb 23-27, First Test, Pune – Australia won by 333 runs.

Mar 4-8, Second Test, Bengaluru – India won by 75 runs.

Mar 16-20, Third Test, Ranchi – match drawn.

Mar 25-29, Fourth Test, Dharamsala – India won by eight wickets.

India win series 2-1