Kolkata, March 5 (IANS) Former India captain Sourav Ganguly on Sunday praised the Australian bowlers, saying that he has never witnessed two spinners wreaking such havoc against Indian batsmen as Nathan Lyon and Steve O'Keefe. Watched a lot of Ashwin tapes but stuck to my strength, says Nathan Lyon
Lyon returned astounding figures of 8/50 on Saturday during the opening day of the second cricket Test in Bengaluru, the best by a touring bowler in India.
In the first Test, which Australia won by 333 runs, O'Keefe took 12 wickets -- six in each innings -- to bring an end to the hosts' record unbeaten streak of 19 matches.
"I have never seen two spinners putting so much pressure from both ends before for Australia. They are bowling really well," Ganguly told reporters on the sidelines of the launch of a cricket academy by former Bengal medium pacer Shib Sankar Paul.
Ganguly had predicted a 4-0 whitewash by India of the Aussies ahead of the Test series. But Australia have won the first tie convincingly and are looking good in the ongoing second Test.
Former India middle-order batsman Mohammad Kaif, who was also present, added that it was great to meet his skipper Ganguly after such a long time.
"It was great to catch up with Dada. We have had some wonderful memories together," Kaif said.
It was alongwith Yuvraj Singh that Kaif stitched together a 121-run stand for the sixth wicket to help India win the Natwest Series in 2002 which prompted Ganguly to take off his shirt and celebrate on the balcony of the Lord's Cricket Ground in London.