Bodies are aching and tensions are frayed, but Justin Langer believes it makes for a great finale to the series
Nathan Lyon‘s departure from 99 previous Test matches says an awful lot about the state Australia find themselves in entering the decisive final encounter of the Border-Gavaskar series.
“Out of 99 Test matches, it’s the first time I’ve ever done an ice bath after a game – everyone’s doing what they can do,” Lyon said. “There’s professional athletes throughout the team, especially the fast bowlers. They’re doing everything they can to make sure they’re 100% ready to go come Friday.”
Make no mistake, this is an extremely sore, tired and – very obviously judging by the words of the captain Tim Paine – increasingly agitated Australia team playing the fourth Test match only three clear days after the third.
In the coach Justin Langer and assistant Andrew McDonald there are a couple of seasoned figures old enough to recall three previous instances where the national side was…