Rest is best to win Tests, says Lyon

Give us a rest and we'll win you the Test.

That is the message from Australia's bowlers to the batters and so far this summer both parties have delivered.

Once the quartet of Pat Cummins, Mitch Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon bowled out Pakistan for 240 on day one of the first Domain Test at the Gabba they were not required to bowl again for another five sessions as the batters racked up a mammoth 580 in 157.4 overs.

Having spent more than a day with their feet up, Australia's attack then knocked over Pakistan for 335 inside 85 overs to win the first Test by an innings, secure an unassailable 1-0 lead and extend Australia's unbeaten streak at the Gabba to 31 years.

"There's a saying going around that if the batters can give us a day, day-and-a-half off our feet more than likely we'll be able to come out and win a Test match and take 20 wickets," off-spinner Lyon said on this week's episode of The Unplayable Podcast.

"We always say if we get that break it gives our quicks a chance to recharge their bodies to the full amount.

"We all know how good the 'Big 3' are – Starc, Hazlewood and Cummins – they're absolutely world class.

"You can see throughout (the first Test) the different roles they play with different people opening the bowling in different innings."

Last summer, against world No.1 India and without the services of senior batters Steve Smith and David Warner, Australia's batting group struggled to repel the potent touring attack and give their bowlers a full day's rest.

While the first two Tests – in Adelaide and Perth – were reasonable in regard to bowling workloads, the third Test at the MCG was where the damage was really done.

After winning the toss and electing to bat, India piled on 7-443 declared in 169.4 overs before a weary Australian side crumbled to be all out for 151 inside 67 overs, forcing the bowlers back out into the field for another trundle.

India would go on to win the Boxing Day Test by 137 runs and then battered a fatigued attack around the SCG in the New Year's Test, racking up 7-622 declared in 167.2 overs.

While the fourth Test was eventually washed out, the mammoth first innings meant India would not relinquish their 2-1 series advantage to claim their maiden Test series victory in Australia.

Fortunately for Lyon and his fast-bowling comrades, the time off at the Gabba and the four-day finish means the attack – which is expected to be unchanged – should be fresh for the pink ball second Test at the Adelaide Oval from Friday.

The luminescent pink ball has aided swing and seam bowlers in its brief history at the highest level but chief spinner Lyon has no issue bowling with it in day-night cricket.

In five twilight Tests, the 32-year-old has 17 wickets at 28.35 and looks forward to playing in Adelaide, one his favourite Test venues.

"The pink ball doesn’t change too much (how I bowl), to be honest," he said.

"I've really enjoyed bowling with the pink ball and bowling on the Adelaide Oval wicket.

"The last few years the Adelaide Oval wicket has had a fair amount of grass on it and it's been a beautiful wicket, beautiful contest between bat and ball.

"It provides a good contest for everyone.

"Pakistan play spin really well, they sweep well and use their feet really well. It's just about staying as consistent as I can."

Lyon played his part in the first Test, taking two wickets – including the key wicket of Babar Azam for 104 in the third innings – in the innings-and-five-run victory.

But the seasoned campaigner is not thrilled with how he performed, saying he'll be studying vision in the hope of making a larger impact in Adelaide.

"It was pretty hard work (in Brisbane)," he said.

"Unfortunately, the ball went soft there so it became quite challenging.

"We knew that if we could bowl well in partnerships and try and limit their run rate we can challenge their defence.

"I think there's still improvement in all areas for us.

"I'm not over the moon excited with the way I bowled but I can get better and I'm certainly looking at footage for where I can get better."

Domain Test Series v Pakistan

Australia squad: Tim Paine (c), Cameron Bancroft, Joe Burns, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner

Pakistan squad: Azhar Ali (c), Abid Ali, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Haris Sohail, Imam-ul-Haq, Imran Khan Snr, Iftikhar Ahmed, Kashif Bhatti, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Musa Khan, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood, Yasir Shah.

First Test: Australia won by an innings and five runs.

Second Test: November 29 – December 3, Adelaide (d/n) (Seven, Fox & Kayo)