[VIDEOS] Why is Nathan Lyon not as respected as his figures warrant?

[shamaan]

Lyon is the best test spinner in the world currently.

 

[Ab Fan]

I think it's debatable between Ashwin and Lyon but not much to pick between them.

 

[Bilal Ahmad15]

Since when was this guy nearing 500 Wickets?

 

[happydavy]

23 fifers and 22 4fers in 121 matches is an absolute champion bowler's stats. Takes wickets everywhere in the world unlike Ashwin, who doesn't have a single 5fer in SENA nations. In India he has 5 fifers in 11 matches, where Ashwin gets all his wickets. He may not have the PR like of Indian cricketers but to even suggest that Ashwin is a superior bowler than him is a joke.

 

[Joseph Gomes]

Lyon is very underrated. Australia is terrible for spinners which has ruined Lyon's career stats. Lyon has dominated India in India

 

[Mamoon]

Lyon is not better than Ashwin, but he is easily the second best off-spinner of this millennium.

I don’t recognize Muralitharan’s record. He was a cheat who should have been banned forever.

 

[happydavy]

"Lyon came here first in 2013. He went to Sri Lanka before that. Todd Murphy came here 10 to 50 times better than how Nathan Lyon came here on his first Test tour," Ashwin said.

"Lyon made his entire career out of bowling in the rough made by Mitchell Starc" Ashwin said in his YouTube channel.

Above statements from Ashwin in 2023. Do you think a superior bowler will ever make statements like these about his contemporary? Calling someone 10-50 times better! An insecured, petty and inferior person does that

 

[jnaveen1980]

23 fifers and 22 4fers in 121 matches is an absolute champion bowler's stats. Takes wickets everywhere in the world unlike Ashwin, who doesn't have a single 5fer in SENA nations. In India he has 5 fifers in 11 matches, where Ashwin gets all his wickets. He may not have the PR like of Indian cricketers but to even suggest that Ashwin is a superior bowler than him is a joke.

For one thing Ashwin Was hardly played like Lyon was. Missed several matches as.India preferred 4 plus 1 and the 1 being Jadeja secondly india always got seamer friendly track. Ashwin totally bamboozled Smith in Australia. Lyon is a defensive bowler most of his wickets were due to batsmen rying to.attack otherwise skillwise he is far inferior. He is slightly better version of Moeen
That's about it.

 

[happydavy]

For one thing Ashwin Was hardly played like Lyon was. Missed several matches as.India preferred 4 plus 1 and the 1 being Jadeja secondly india always got seamer friendly track. Ashwin totally bamboozled Smith in Australia. Lyon is a defensive bowler most of his wickets were due to batsmen rying to.attack otherwise skillwise he is far inferior. He is slightly better version of Moeen
That's about it.

Ashwin didn't miss matches, he was dropped because he's not good enough. He had got enough opportunities and has consistently failed in Sena countries, not a single 5 wickets hall speaks for itself. And forget Lyon, even Moen would have an equally good bowling record as Ashwin if Mooen would have played his cricket on the dustbowls India has been dishing out since the last few year.

 

[Saj]

He's not a media darling.

Doesn't make big statements.

Doesn't feel the need to be in the public eye all the time.

Just lets his cricket do the talking.

A fantastic cricketer.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Ashwin didn't miss matches, he was dropped because he's not good enough. He had got enough opportunities and has consistently failed in Sena countries, not a single 5 wickets hall speaks for itself. And forget Lyon, even Moen would have an equally good bowling record as Ashwin if Mooen would have played his cricket on the dustbowls India has been dishing out since the last few year.

That is your opinion not a fact. Only reason Jadeja was preferred because he improved his batting vastly. What opportunities? He missed 60% of the matches. And also with India getting seamer friendly track India replied back with strong pace attack. That attack died with Bumrah's injury. Moeen's record in India is pathetic. Dustbowl? Final test vs Australia was on a road. Every tom dick harry made 100. Ashwin got 6fer.

 

[jnaveen1980]

He's not a media darling.

Doesn't make big statements.

Doesn't feel the need to be in the public eye all the time.

Just lets his cricket do the talking.

A fantastic cricketer.

Ashwin is vastly more skilled bowler. In addition to that with his batting alone he has won several series for India. Besides Ashwin played all 3 formats Also IPL. Thoroughly over-exposed bowler. He is still able to surprise players.



Lyon is good but not really as good as Ash. He couldn't even get rid of India's noobs like Sundar, Thakur at the Gabba. Heck he couldn't dismiss Ashwin at the SCG and India earned a famous draw. He couldn't dismiss Jack Leach and Stokes in that famous last wicket partnership. Lyon is effective only when batsman tries to attack him. Lyon has bowled 281 balls to Ashwin in Australia. 98 runs by Ashwin. Yet to dismiss him.

 

[Adijazz1706]

Ashwin is vastly more skilled bowler. In addition to that with his batting alone he has won several series for India. Besides Ashwin played all 3 formats Also IPL. Thoroughly over-exposed bowler. He is still able to surprise players.

View attachment 119595

Lyon is good but not really as good as Ash. He couldn't even get rid of India's noobs like Sundar, Thakur at the Gabba. Heck he couldn't dismiss Ashwin at the SCG and India earned a famous draw. He couldn't dismiss Jack Leach and Stokes in that famous last wicket partnership. Lyon is effective only when batsman tries to attack him. Lyon has bowled 281 balls to Ashwin in Australia. 98 runs by Ashwin. Yet to dismiss him.

Don't think Ashwin has a single Motm in SENA, forget MotS. Check the difference in averages in SENA, Lyon has gotten tons of wickets in India whenever he toured with 5 or 6 5fers in like 10 matches IIRC

 

[jnaveen1980]

Don't think Ashwin has a single Motm in SENA, forget MotS. Check the difference in averages in SENA, Lyon has gotten tons of wickets in India whenever he toured with 5 or 6 5fers in like 10 matches IIRC

That is because India is greeted with seamers track and India plays 4+1. Lyon on the other hand plays in Australia almost all his matches. He is the only spinner and he gets to play every single match. Ashwin missed more than 60% of SENA matches due to this. But the wickets he took were gun wickets. During his side strain injury he was a bit off color. But he is a vastly improved bowler.Missed 6 or 7 matches in England.

 

[Adijazz1706]

That is because India is greeted with seamers track and India plays 4+1. Lyon on the other hand plays in Australia almost all his matches. He is the only spinner and he gets to play every single match. Ashwin missed more than 60% of SENA matches due to this. But the wickets he took were gun wickets. During his side strain injury he was a bit off color. But he is a vastly improved bowler.Missed 6 or 7 matches in England.

Lyon is a worse batsman than Ashwin but he gets picked all the time because of his bowling. The difference between Jadeja and Ashwin's bowling is too small to have Ashwin playing. If Ashwin was as good as you think he is, he'd be first name on the team sheet. He to bowling what Warner is to batting imo, great at home and below average away

 

[Major]

Lyon is not better than Ashwin, but he is easily the second best off-spinner of this millennium.

I don’t recognize Muralitharan’s record. He was a cheat who should have been banned forever.

But it was ICC that allowed him to bowl with a chucking action, so is ICC at fault?

 

[Mamoon]

But it was ICC that allowed him to bowl with a chucking action, so is ICC at fault?

Yes it was ICC’s fault. They succumbed to political pressure and cries of racism. Muralitharan’s action was never within the prescribed limits.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Lyon is a worse batsman than Ashwin but he gets picked all the time because of his bowling. The difference between Jadeja and Ashwin's bowling is too small to have Ashwin playing. If Ashwin was as good as you think he is, he'd be first name on the team sheet. He to bowling what Warner is to batting imo, great at home and below average away

Don't want to get into this debate on a deeper level.

But that is a bad argument.

Indian management has made plenttyyyyy of crazy blunders.

Dropping Shami for Bhuvi in WC 2019.....and for CT 2017.

Aus dropped Head for the first test in India before bringing him back.

India dropped Ashwin after a stellar WTC Finals performance in England.

Not being in the team is no criteria for someone being good or not good.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

"Lyon came here first in 2013. He went to Sri Lanka before that. Todd Murphy came here 10 to 50 times better than how Nathan Lyon came here on his first Test tour," Ashwin said.

"Lyon made his entire career out of bowling in the rough made by Mitchell Starc" Ashwin said in his YouTube channel.

Above statements from Ashwin in 2023. Do you think a superior bowler will ever make statements like these about his contemporary? Calling someone 10-50 times better! An insecured, petty and inferior person does that

Meh.

Same guy backed Lyon to play IPL recently.

I think the statement was more in praise of Murphy but worded weirdly but let's not get facts in the way of a good story.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Lyon is a wonderful bowler.

Hope he keeps carrying on.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Lyon is a worse batsman than Ashwin but he gets picked all the time because of his bowling. The difference between Jadeja and Ashwin's bowling is too small to have Ashwin playing. If Ashwin was as good as you think he is, he'd be first name on the team sheet. He to bowling what Warner is to batting imo, great at home and below average away

Why do you think so many cricketers criticize his exclusion. Even in the last WTC final he was the better bowler even in seamer friendly condition. Bumrah picked 0 wickets. Just because they made that call that doesn't mean it is right. Also where did you come up with this conclusion that Jadeja's batting is only slightly better. Ashwin's batting was better than Jadeja's but that was 6 years back. Last 3 or 4 years Jaddu is a vastly improved batsman. Infact better than Indian top ordrer.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Don't want to get into this debate on a deeper level.

But that is a bad argument.

Indian management has made plenttyyyyy of crazy blunders.

Dropping Shami for Bhuvi in WC 2019.....and for CT 2017.

Aus dropped Head for the first test in India before bringing him back.

India dropped Ashwin after a stellar WTC Finals performance in England.

Not being in the team is no criteria for someone being good or not good.

India is lucky to have so many good all rounders. Unfortunately all of them are spinners. Otherwise even Axar is good enough. Kuldeep is good enough. India can very well form a spin quartet of this era. As long as India wins nobody will complain. But these are some obvious mistakes. That is why complaint.

 

[happydavy]

Meh.

Same guy backed Lyon to play IPL recently.

I think the statement was more in praise of Murphy but worded weirdly but let's not get facts in the way of a good story.

I posted what Ashwin said and that is the fact, what you want to believe is the story as you seem to know what Ashwin meant rather than what he said . Ashwin is an insecured person and he has proved it multiple times. Lyon brings out the insecurity. Shastri praising Kuldeep is an issue for him, bringing in his dad's health in the picture for not getting selected is another example. Brave men take it on chin and don't go around the town gaining sympathy to get selected.

 

[happydavy]

Don't think Ashwin has a single Motm in SENA, forget MotS. Check the difference in averages in SENA, Lyon has gotten tons of wickets in India whenever he toured with 5 or 6 5fers in like 10 matches IIRC

For any reasonable person, Lyon has achieved twice of what Ashwin has achieved. Lyon has taken wickets in difficult conditions for spin bowling and has consistently won matches for Australia everywhere in the world. Ashwin is a dust bowl bully and has built a career out of bowling on third grade dustbowls.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

If lyon played on the same wickets as Ashwin he would have had 900 test wickets.

 

[happydavy]

If lyon played on the same wickets as Ashwin he would have had 900 test wickets.

Naah that's ok, it would have devalued his wickets tally. It's best to perform outside Asia and win matches for your country like Lyon does and build a strong legacy than taking easy wickets and stupid fans.

 

[Saj]

Imagine the number of wickets he would have had if he was bowling in Asia.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Imagine the number of wickets he would have had if he was bowling in Asia.

His average in Asia is 30 India/Pakistan/UAE/BD/Srilanka. He took some fifers on raging turners. On regular turners and flattish wickets he didn't do zilch. Ashwin and Lyong have played 21 tests against each other home and away. Ashwin 105 wickets/28 avge. Lyon avge 88 wickets at 32 despite being the lead spinner where Jadeja 72 wickets in 18 avge. Even in Austalia Ashwin is better than Lyon in the matches played together In terms of skills/variation Ashwin is in a completely different league. Lyon has played 99 tests in a row for his country without getting dropped. Next test will be 100th test. Ashwin had to make way unjustifiably for balance. That was really unfortunate.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Naah that's ok, it would have devalued his wickets tally. It's best to perform outside Asia and win matches for your country like Lyon does and build a strong legacy than taking easy wickets and stupid fans.

His wickets are already devalued in the eyes of the Indian mob mentality cricket fans.

 

[Firebat]

 

[BunnyRabbit]

Him playing almost 100 tests without getting dropped is a testament of Lyon's reliability and cricket knowledge of Australian management to persist with him after a few underwhelming games.

When he was picked in 2011, everyone was saying he was only going to be another one in the revolving musical chair. The guy had a bowling average of around 39 if I am correct but he's overcome all the obstacles and is going to reach 500 test wickets soon. In addition, he is well suited to bowl anywhere in the world.

 

[shaz619]

Him playing almost 100 tests without getting dropped is a testament of Lyon's reliability and cricket knowledge of Australian management to persist with him after a few underwhelming games.

When he was picked in 2011, everyone was saying he was only going to be another one in the revolving musical chair. The guy had a bowling average of around 39 if I am correct but he's overcome all the obstacles and is going to reach 500 test wickets soon. In addition, he is well suited to bowl anywhere in the world.

It begs the question, should he be regarded as an all time great? or have the batting standards against spin fallen considerably.

Lyon was pulverised by Younis Khan, the best player of spin this century

 

[BunnyRabbit]

It begs the question, should he be regarded as an all time great? or have the batting standards against spin fallen considerably.

Lyon was pulverised by Younis Khan, the best player of spin this century

Think he'll go down as an Australian great and Australia's best offie. Like Broad is England's great.

Yes Younis was brilliant against spin but he couldn't neutralize Herath completely.

Think Herath should be an ATG but Lyon will be an Australian great.

 

[PakEngFan]

League ahead of Ashwin who requires custom made pitches in India. Lol Ashwin doesn’t even have a 5fer in SENA.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Think he'll go down as an Australian great and Australia's best offie. Like Broad is England's great.

Yes Younis was brilliant against spin but he couldn't neutralize Herath completely.

Think Herath should be an ATG but Lyon will be an Australian great.

Virendar Sehwag destroyed Herath and Murali in a single day scoring 287 runs in 2.5 sessions. He was probably the best player against spin in the 2000s. Batting against spin has regressed especially from Indians shockingly. Kohli was a great player against spin. His game against spin regressed alarmingly. Lack of participation in domestic made them forget about their game against spin. Shreyas Iyer is the best in the current side. Others are so so. Pujara also regressed big time.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

Virendar Sehwag destroyed Herath and Murali in a single day scoring 287 runs in 2.5 sessions. He was probably the best player against spin in the 2000s. Batting against spin has regressed especially from Indians shockingly. Kohli was a great player against spin. His game against spin regressed alarmingly. Lack of participation in domestic made them forget about their game against spin. Shreyas Iyer is the best in the current side. Others are so so. Pujara also regressed big time.

Herath didn't really come into his own till 2011.

I think Tendulkar, Laxman and Dravid were better players of spin than Sehwag. Sehwag could murder spinner on flat pitches but not really everywhere. The others were much more well rounded. Sehwag had a sharp decline after 2011 wc. He looked pretty clueless against Swann and Panesar in the 2012 test series and he was pretty much done by that point.

Yes I think the likes of Root, Smith, Kane etc are at an equal level of playing spinners as the likes of Kohli and playing spinners in Tests is becoming a diminishing art. Sangakkara was probably the last best player of spin.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Herath didn't really come into his own till 2011.

I think Tendulkar, Laxman and Dravid were better players of spin than Sehwag. Sehwag could murder spinner on flat pitches but not really everywhere. The others were much more well rounded. Sehwag had a sharp decline after 2011 wc. He looked pretty clueless against Swann and Panesar in the 2012 test series and he was pretty much done by that point.

Yes I think the likes of Root, Smith, Kane etc are at an equal level of playing spinners as the likes of Kohli and playing spinners in Tests is becoming a diminishing art. Sangakkara was probably the last best player of spin.

Absolutely not. When every Indian was struggling against Mendis Sehwagg played him with ridiculous ease. His 201 at Galle was epic. Also there was this match against pakistan where pitch became absolutely unplayable. Ball was turning square even for Afridi. Sehwag was the best on that pitch until he was run out by Gambhir. All the other players struggled ont hat pitch. Sehwag is the greatest player agianst spin in the history dare i say. I am only talking about peak. Not after his reflexes waned. That can happen to anyone.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

Absolutely not. When every Indian was struggling against Mendis Sehwagg played him with ridiculous ease. His 201 at Galle was epic. Also there was this match against pakistan where pitch became absolutely unplayable. Ball was turning square even for Afridi. Sehwag was the best on that pitch until he was run out by Gambhir. All the other players struggled ont hat pitch. Sehwag is the greatest player agianst spin in the history dare i say. I am only talking about peak. Not after his reflexes waned. That can happen to anyone.

Hmmm. Sehwag was extremely hard to control no doubt.

 

[shaz619]

Think he'll go down as an Australian great and Australia's best offie. Like Broad is England's great.

Yes Younis was brilliant against spin but he couldn't neutralize Herath completely.

Think Herath should be an ATG but Lyon will be an Australian great.

He was the best of his era regardless and I agree Herath is under rated, a lot of it is due to his success coming after Murali. He’d get more attention now

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Herath was great for SL and I'm personally a fan but his record was much better in SL than even other parts of Asia. He was poor even in India. So I don't think there's a case for him being an ATG if Lyon is not. Lyon bowls on unforgiving OZ pitches primarily so that has to be considered.

For me, Lyon has gone past Swann as the best off-spinner of recent times simply because of his longevity. Swann had a better peak but considering Gazza lasted longer despite playing on spin graveyards for a long time, I think he has taken over now.

 

[MenInG]

Lyon sets new record

It's a big day for Australia spinner Nathan Lyon, who becomes the first specialist bowler to play 100 consecutive Test matches.

 

[Joseph Gomes]

Lyon bowls in a country which is the worst place in the world for offbreak/Orthodox spinners. His career average is very misleading given how he has routinely outperformed most spinners both home and away for a much of his career. Lyon has been excellent against India in India, and Indian batsmen have extremely good home stats.

 

[MenInG]

Good batting option as well. Bit disappointed that he got out to an obvious trap.

 

[MenInG]

496 Test wickets - just a regulation off-spinner - as Nasser says

Wicket of Crawley

 

[MenInG]

Nathan Lyon leaves the field with the physio after sprinting in for a catch

Lyon shook his head as he was helped off the field by a member of the Australia medical staff. The spinner looked in real distress.

 

[MenInG]

Update from the Australian team: Nathan Lyon suffered an injury to his right calf injury while fielding in the final session today. He will be further assessed after play #Ashes

 

[Saj]

Looked a bad injury today.

Calf injuries can be horrible.

If he's pulled the muscle then that's him out for at least the rest of this Test match and probably the next one.

 

[Firebat]

An ATG Test spinner. Playing 100 consecutive Tests and about to reach 500 wickets. He just bowls and bowls, consistently takes key wickets in every innings and he doesn't look like slowing down.

He'll be a huge miss if this calf injury is serious.

 

[MenInG]

Huge blow for Australia

==

Nathan Lyon update: 'Significant' calf strain

An update on the status of Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon.

He has been diagnosed with a significant calf strain and will require a period of rehabilitation after this match is concluded.

A decision regarding his availability for the remainder of the series will be made at the conclusion of the game.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Nathan Lyon is bowling well against West Indies in the 2nd and Final Test match of the series. he got his third wicket of the inning.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Already among the league of greats, Nathan Lyon now goes past the great Courtney Walsh. Can he reach the 550-wickets mark?

 

[BouncerGuy]

Nathan Lyon finishes with match figures of 10-108 against New Zealand in the 1st Test match of the series. He picked up his 24th five-wicket haul in the 2nd inning to achieve the 10-fer in the match.

Nathan Lyon has taken five-wicket hauls in 9 different countries that have hosted Test cricket, which places him on par with the legendary bowlers Muthiah Muralidaran and Shane Warne. What a bowler he has been for his team.

 

[Savak]

The guy can claim to be the best offspinner in history. His bowling action is clean compared to Murali and he got these 521 wickets without having a doosra, just proper conventional disciplined off spin bowling with guile.

 

[sweep_shot]

Already among the league of greats, Nathan Lyon now goes past the great Courtney Walsh. Can he reach the 550-wickets mark?

Lyon can probably surpass McGrath's 563 wickets. Not far now.

 

[Dr_Bassim]

Underrated.

Probabaly the best offie in terms of persistence and determination and being able to get wickets despite having no secret weapon.

Just bowling in the right areas and letting the wicket do the rest.

Ive seen Swann, Vettori and many others but Lyon trumps them all.

Australian great for sure, but perhaps just short of ATG level.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Better Test spinner than anyone England/NZ/SA/PAK/WI have ever produced.

 

[James]

I think Nathan is now in ATG territory. There seem to be two types of ATG in cricket: the more obvious and spectacular ones who talent and output wise are several levels above most of their opponents, make the game look a lot easier than it is from a relatively young age, and clearly are headed for the platinum plated category from early in their careers; and then there are the slow burners, who start off from an average/just above average international cricket level and have to make some mistakes, learn, reflect, bounce back, and work incredibly hard to extract every last sinew from themselves to start building up their record and gradually grow into the role of a match winning cricketer. They make a rock solid contribution over a long period of time where they eventually become indispensable to their national sides. Lyon seems to be on the latter ATG category to me. (I’m also thinking Jimmy Anderson)

 

[James]

Better Test spinner than anyone England/NZ/SA/PAK/WI have ever produced.

Possible that Underwood was on par. His record is superb including in Aus/NZ/India.

 

[happydavy]

The best off spinner (after Murali) ever and certainly the best off spinner of last 15 years. Ashwin isn't good enough outside Asia, and this guy takes wickets everywhere and win matches for his country. An absolute champion!

 

[DeadlyVenom]

I think at one point unofficially having a bowling average under 25 was one of the criteria for being a bowling ATG.

However he is an ATG based on longevity and where he played the majority of his cricket, although not in the top wrong.

If Lyon had retired after 50 tests he would not be remembered, and thats what stops him from being in the top tier.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Possible that Underwood was on par. His record is superb including in Aus/NZ/India.

"Deadly" played on wet pitches and what not and that may have skewed his record.

His peak started in the 60's and went on till 72.

Lyon mostly bowls on flat decks in Australia and has shown incredible longevity.

However , I will add the caveat that he is one of the best of the last 50 years. Bit unfair to both Lyon and the likes of Laker/Underwood to be compared when cricket pitches/bats have changed so much.

 

[jeeteshssaxena]

I am not sure if I would pick Lyon over Swann quality wise but Lyon wins on Longevity.

 

[Ab Fan]

I would put him in the top 5 test spinners of this millenium.

Warne, Murali, Ashwin, Kumble, Lyon

That's top 5.

Quality wise, Swann also up there but he just didn't played enough like the above 5 names. With spinners, there is always that debate on what else they got once they get found out, hence longevity matters.

 

[FearlessRoar]

Aussie skipper sees no reason why star off-spinner can’t play into his 40s, after another match-winning performance

Pat Cummins has backed his record-breaking off-spinner Nathan Lyon to continue his decorated Australia career for a further four years, and added he'll know it's time to stand down from the captaincy when his bowling ace decides to call it quits.

Lyon was the destroyer in his team's 172-run demolition of New Zealand that was wrapped up before lunch on day four at Basin Reserve today, claiming 6-65 in the Black Caps' second innings to finish with 10-108 for the match.

The 36-year-old has previously indicated his wish to play on at Test level until 2027, with a view to being part of an Ashes-winning tour to the UK after his campaign last year was cut prematurely short due to a serious calf injury.

It would mean Australia's most successful finger spinner, who now sits seventh on the all-time Test wicket-taking ladder with 527 and within striking distance of sixth-placed Glenn McGrath (563), would be on the cusp of turning 40 when the next Ashes sojourn ends.

He would therefore become the first Australia men's player to take the Test field into their fourth decade since former leg-spinner Bob Holland in 1986, but Cummins hold no doubts his long-time New South Wales and national teammate is capable of going the distance.

"The only barrier really is his body, so if he looks after his body and makes sure he's right for 10 Test matches a year, or whatever it is, I'd absolutely love him to play until 2027," Cummins said in the wake of Australia's Test win.

"And I don't think there's much that's going to get in his way.

"I've already told him the day he retires I'm definitely giving up the captaincy because it makes my life a helluva lot easier."

Following the second Test of the current Qantas Tour of NZ, starting at Christchurch's Hagley Oval on Friday, Lyon's next Test commitment won't come until the start of India's five-match series in Australia next summer.

However, he will continue playing throughout the winter as he turns out in both red and white-ball formats for Lancashire in the UK county competition.

It is understood he will leave for Manchester at the start of next month, and is expected to continue playing for Lancashire until October although it's possible Cricket Australia will prefer to see him return home before then.

Lyon's second innings rout of NZ, which effectively decided the game's outcome when he claimed the key wickets of Rachin Ravindra, Tom Blundell and Glenn Phillips in the space of eight deliveries while not conceding a run, represented his best Test haul since recovering from the calf injury.

And not only did he collect his 24th Test five-for and fifth bag of 10 wickets in a match, he became the first player in the game's history to achieve those two feats while also top scoring with the bat in his now familiar role as night watch.

Only McGrath, England pair Stuart Broad (604) and Jimmy Anderson (currently 698), leg-spinners Anil Kumble (India – 619) and Shane Warne (Australia – 708) and fellow offie Muthiah Muralidaran (Sri Lanka – 800) remain ahead of him on the Test wicket-taking list.

A key to Lyon's remarkable success has been his capacity to routinely land his off-spinning stock ball precisely where aimed, across countless overs during the course of an innings, which Cummins admits makes it simpler to set fields and execute plans.

"It's a captain's dream really," Cummins said today.

"There's a real sense of calm out there when you know you've got someone that good on a wicket that's giving him a little bit of help.

"It's fun really, you can get creative with some of the field placings knowing he's going to land it exactly where you want it to.

"I thought he was brilliant over the last couple of days, bouncing through a few different plans but it always just felt like he was in control.

"And it felt like we had plan B, C and D we could go to as well, but never really felt like we had to."

Lyon's impact on the result was brought into even sharper focus by NZ's decision not to play their specialist left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner on a pitch that does not traditionally take turn, and instead relied on part-timers Ravindra and Phillips.

And while Phillips was his team's best performer with a maiden first-class five-wicket haul on day three, he was not used at all in Australia's first innings as they posted a decisive 383 after being reduced to 6-176 late on day one.

By contrast, from the moment he first took the ball after tea on day two and snared four NZ wickets in the final session, Lyon recognised the Basin uncharacteristically offered a surface aiding spin and would have taken the new ball in the Black Caps' second innings had Cummins agreed.

"As soon as Starcy (Mitchell Starc) and Josh (Hazlewood, his opening partner) had bowled their first overs at each end, he (Lyon) was coming up and asking me when he's coming on," Cummins said today.

"That's great, I feel lucky that just about every bowler in our team is like that at the moment.

"Everyone's keen to be the matchwinner.

"But with a bit of spin and a bit of bounce, good luck taking the ball out of Gaz's (Lyon's) hand."

Cummins backs in Lyon's aim for four more years | cricket.com.au

Aussie skipper sees no reason why star off-spinner can’t play into his 40s, after another...

www.cricket.com.au

 

[FearlessRoar]

At 36 years of age, still possessing such sharp reflexes, for Lancashire, he took a fabulous catch against Kent in the County Championship 2024. Still a better spinner than Adam Zampa, Australia should have invested in his talent in T20I cricket as well, he didn't get proper chances to prove himself in white ball cricket.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1787438777377456603

 

[hassan918]

Nathan Lyons has achieved another milestone in Test Cricket as he took his 550 wicket of his test career. He is now the third highest wicket-taker for Australia in test cricket behind Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath.

 

[Kianig89]

Lyon so lucky played with world class trio Starc Cummins Hazlewood

Give him 30 Tests with Naseem Shah, Mir Hamza & Abass and see the diff.

 

[pratiktc]

If a player is playing till he's forty it reflects more about lack of talent depth in domestic and lack of foresight from selectors.

He has been a great servant of Aus cricket for 14 yrs but after WTC final it is time to replace him and blood Murphy in home summer. Time for the next generation.

 

[jnaveen1980]

If a player is playing till he's forty it reflects more about lack of talent depth in domestic and lack of foresight from selectors.

He has been a great servant of Aus cricket for 14 yrs but after WTC final it is time to replace him and blood Murphy in home summer. Time for the next generation.

He is a one format player. So the workload for him is relatively less. Does he play in BBL atleast? I am not sure. He will prolong his career as much as he can as he gets a very good annual retainer.

 

[Hitman]

You don't receive acclaim and plaudits without performing in Test cricket. Else, Michael Bevan would have been a legend.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

If a player is playing till he's forty it reflects more about lack of talent depth in domestic and lack of foresight from selectors.

He has been a great servant of Aus cricket for 14 yrs but after WTC final it is time to replace him and blood Murphy in home summer. Time for the next generation.

Australia seem to have this problem across all areas.

It may be hindsight speaking as I didn't watch too much of the series but with WTC qualifications assured what was the need to play Khawaja, Head, Marnus and Smith all together against this side.

In the BGT they threw youngsters into the deep end against Bumrah but here the oldies cashed in a bit.

Poor planning for the future.