Will chase whatever target Sri Lanka set us: Nathan Lyon

Despite losing control of the match, Nathan Lyon, Australian off-spinner, insists Australia are still in a good position to win the first Test against Sri Lanka in Kandy because there are "no demons" in the pitch.


After mustering a meagre 117 on day one, Sri Lanka's supposedly fragile batting line-up looked unlikely to make a game of it, being 86 in arrears after the first innings. But, Kusal Mendis produced a brilliant maiden Test century to finish unbeaten on 169 on day three , guiding Sri Lanka to a lead of 196 with four wickets in hand.

Sri Lanka are suddenly in the ascendancy, as Australia have only once successfully chased more than 200 in the sub-continent. It will also be the first time an Australian side has batted in a fourth innings in a Test in Sri Lanka.

Exacerbating Australia's sudden plight, they may be without left-arm finger spinner Steve O'Keefe, who injured his right hamstring while bowling his 17th over and did not return to the field.

But Lyon, who became the first Australian off-spinner to claim 200 wickets when he dismissed Dhananjaya de Silva for 36, said Australia remained confident of victory. "We will look to chase down whatever they set us," he said in the press conference on Thursday (July 28). "It has been proven today (Thursday), if you have the game, a simple batting plan, there are no demons out there. You can score runs out there. That's one big positive - it's been proven we can score runs."

Lyon paid tribute to Mendis's stunning performance but lamented Australia's missed opportunities. "It's probably got a tad easier to bat but you have got to give credit where credit is due," he said. "I think the young fella, to get 170, has batted out of his skin... he has batted extremely well.

"We have missed our half chances," he added. "It's been a tough day for the Australian bowlers but the good thing about Test cricket is we will bounce back tomorrow and look forward to taking the new ball and, hopefully, taking some early wickets and then get batting."

The 28-year-old said the loss of O'Keefe hampered Australia's attack. "To see him injure himself, go off the field and for Australia to lose a vital member of our bowling attack, it's a pretty big loss for us," Lyon said.

"To lose someone like (Steve), a quality bowler on a wicket like that - a couple are spinning, a couple are sliding straight on - he is very talented in these conditions, so it was a big loss.

"Injuries happen in cricket. As a bowling unit, we have got to bounce back and pull together and fill in for him," he added.