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Posted: 2019-01-18 07:03:04

He had limped to 14 off 24 balls before he fell lbw to paceman Bhuvneshwar Kumar for the third time in the series, leaving him with 26 runs in three innings in this campaign, following on from his 97 runs at 16.16 in three Tests against India and 57 runs in three ODIs against South Africa.

While the Australian captain almost certainly will remain at the top of the order, his issues against the in-swinging delivery - he has fallen lbw or been bowled in 10 of his past 14 ODI innings - are pronounced.

In a bid to counter this, he batted well outside of his crease but was fortunate to survive on 10 when he edged through a vacant second slip. He was soon involved in one of the more bizarre moments when Kumar released his delivery next to umpire Michael Gough - about three metres behind the popping crease.

Alex Carey of Australia  returns to the pavilion after beIng caught by Virat Kholi off the bowling of Bhuvneshwar Kumar .

Alex Carey of Australia returns to the pavilion after beIng caught by Virat Kholi off the bowling of Bhuvneshwar Kumar .Credit:AAP

Finch pulled out of the delivery, meaning it was ruled a dead ball. The bowler wasn't thrilled, nor was captain Virat Kohli, but Gough ruled the delivery unfair despite there being no rule as to where it can be bowled from. There was no such doubt next ball when Finch was hit on the kneeroll from another inswinger, his crouching stance not helping him find bat on ball. He opted against calling for a decision review, a wise call as replays showed the ball would have clipped the top of leg stump.

Khawaja and Adelaide century-maker Marsh revived the innings with a 72-run stand, the latter prospering from a dropped catch by MS Dhoni on 11. They slowly built the run rate, for the first power play had netted only 30 runs, although they could have gone after the part-time spin of Kedar Jadhav more.

The contest turned when leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal was introduced, for he had a charging Marsh stumped down leg side with his first ball and three balls later had Khawaja top edge a delivery straight back to him. Australia's woes against spin were reinforced when Marcus Stoinis poked at Chahal and was caught at slip, the latter finishing with his second five-wicket haul and career-best figures.

Unless the Australians can rectify this issue, they have little chance of securing a fifth World Cup.

Glenn Maxwell clipped five boundaries in his 19-ball stay but wasted an opportunity for a big score when he misread the length of a delivery from Mohammed Shami and his scooped top edge was caught at fine leg.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar of India celebrates catching Glenn Maxwell of Australia with MS Dhoni

Bhuvneshwar Kumar of India celebrates catching Glenn Maxwell of Australia with MS Dhoni Credit:AAP

Leg-spinner Adam Zampa was one of two changes the Australians had made from the side beaten in Adelaide. Jason Behrendorff (back) was ruled out while Zampa replaced Lyon, who had been wicketless in the opening two games. Lyon's axing prompted Shane Warne to declare the off-spinner needed to enhance his repertoire if he was to become a frontline spinner in the 50 overs format.

Where maintaining a disciplined line with his off-breaks has been the key to Lyon becoming Australia's greatest finger spinner, and arguably the world's best spinner, that approach does not work in the ODI arena, where variety is required.

Warne, a key figure in the 1999 World Cup victory, said Lyon had only two types of deliveries, and needed to do more.

"I think he needs to develop something else. The key in Test match cricket is being patient and bowling ball after ball after ball. You can't do that in white-ball cricket. You have got to bowl different balls all the time. And Nathan has really only got an off-spinner and a faster off-spinner," Warne said on Fox Cricket.

"He just needs to develop a faster one or a top spinner or something that goes the other way (doosra) to be successful in this form of the game."

Lyon has played only 17 ODIs since his debut in 2012, and has a modest record of 18 wickets at 42.83.

Jon Pierik is a sports writer with The Age, focusing primarily on AFL football, cricket and basketball. He has won awards for his cricket and basketball writing.

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