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Lyon to be let loose on green oasis

The quicks were licking their lips pre-game, but the impact of a part-timer offie on day one will not have gone unnoticed by Australia's lead spinner

On a wicket that's greener than Australia's fledgling top order, it could be veteran spinner Nathan Lyon that has the biggest impact on the second Domain Test at Perth Stadium.

The sight of a lush, leafy pitch and promise of pace and bounce from the head curator had the fast bowlers licking their lips and India selecting four fast bowlers without a specialist spinner for just the third time in their Test history.

But the most successful bowler for the tourists on day one was off-spinning allrounder Hanuma Vihari, who picked up 2-53 from 14 overs.

And it was his maiden wicket on Australian soil that will have Lyon excited when it's his turn to bowl on Saturday.

Vihari fired in an off-break at 85kph that leapt off the pitch and took the shoulder of the bat of Marcus Harris, the two-Test opener who was set on 70 and eyeing a maiden century in Australian colours.

Lyon is no stranger to Perth Stadium having taken seven wickets at the venue in NSW's 104-run JLT Sheffield Shield win over WA last month.

If the Test pitch mirrors the Shield wicket as was intended, opening batter Aaron Finch says Lyon will be a difficult prospect for the tourists.

Aussies battle hard against valiant India

"I think the bounce that Nathan will get will be crucial on this wicket," Finch said.

"We saw when Vihari bowled that fuller length it was tough.

"There were some chances created for the left-hander, for 'SoS' there (Shaun Marsh, who was dismissed by Vihari for 45).

"I think Nathan will enjoy bowling on that. The bounce as much as anything, he talks about how much more effective he is when you do have that bounce because you can get guys caught on the crease, it brings in your bat-lad and leg-slip.

"No doubt he'll be excited by it."

The impact of Vihari might have India's selectors questioning whether it was the right call not to pick a spinner in the absence of the injured Ravichandran Ashwin.

Ashwin picked up a side strain in the first Test win in Adelaide, where he claimed six wickets and caused headaches for Australia's left-handers.

But he was replaced in the XI by express paceman Umesh Yadav instead of left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja or left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav.

The absence of Ashwin is a welcome sight for Finch and his teammates.

Finch survives early probing by India

"Ash bowled beautifully in Adelaide, especially on the last day, I think he got a couple of wickets there," Finch said.

"What's he taken, 360 Test wickets?

"He's pretty adept at bowling on any surface. No doubt he would have been a handful."

Domain Test Series v India

Dec 6-10: First Test, Adelaide Oval, India won by 31 runs

Dec 14-18: Second Test, Perth Stadium

Dec 26-30: Third Test, MCG

Jan 3-7: Fourth Test, SCG

Australia squad: Tim Paine (c, wk), Josh Hazlewood (vc), Mitch Marsh (vc), Pat Cummins, Aaron Finch, Peter Handscomb, Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Chris Tremain

India squad: Virat Kohli (c), Murali Vijay, KL Rahul, Prithvi Shaw, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant (wk), Parthiv Patel (wk), Ravi Ashwin, Ravi Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar