Nathan Lyon is congratulated by his teammates
(Getty)That didn’t eventuate but it didn’t matter – the game was over now; Lyon was Australia’s day-five
matchwinner. “He bowled a bit quicker which he tends to do over here because he doesn't get the bounce
he gets in Australia or the turn as consistently,” Paine explained from his perfect vantage point. “He
controlled it beautifully and a real threat. He can take day five wickets and when you have a spinner like that
it can change a game very quickly.”
Up the other end, Cummins bullied four wickets of his own to make it all ten between the pair. In the case
of the quick, he was noticeably inconsistent on Friday but demonstrated clearly why he is the number one
ranked bowler in the world. That Pete Siddle didn’t get in on the act is but a quirk – he couldn’t have been
any better on the final day. With James Pattinson so impressive in different spells through the match and
Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood ready to roll at any point, Australia’s selection strategy has worked a
treat.
Ben Stokes reacts after being dismissed by
Nathan Lyon (Getty)Paine acknowledges that it was a momentous win, and it was doubtless was, but is insisting that, in
Australian speak, they will be “keeping a lid on” the celebrations. “It’s a huge step in the right direction,” he
added. “Tonight will be quite a different feel to most Test wins we’ve had. We’re over here to do something
that a lot of teams from Australia have struggled to do. And we realise that if we can do it, it’ll be spoken
about for a hell of a long time.” As will the story of the skinny kid from rural New South Wales. And it’s a
long way from finished.