Amidst the transition from the leadership of Michael Clarke to that of Steven Smith, one member who has stood like a rock and held on to his spot, has been the off-spinner, Nathan Lyon. Having made his debut in Sri Lanka in mid-2011, the off-spinner has been a proven match-winner for the Kangaroos, with several memorable performances.
With 247 Test wickets to his name, the offie is just a scalp away from equaling the tally of the great Richie Benaud, to become the second most successful spinner of Australia, behind the ever legendary Shane Warne.
On the eve of the first Test in Bangladesh, Lyon resonated the same and spoke about getting to the elusive feat.
“I’ve got to get there first,” Lyon said. “It’ll be nice but I’ve always said at the end of my career I’ll look back and see where I get to. “I’m not here to make milestones, I’m here to win series and games of cricket for Australia.”
Lyon also spoke of his meetings with the great Richie Benaud, from the past.
“I met Richie a couple of times, I was very lucky to meet Richie,” Lyon said. “I was a long way off him then. I don’t think he ever thought I would get there. “He was just a nice, humble guy. He was a legend of the game, someone very special to the Australian cricket team. “It’s very special to have met someone like Richie and been able to talk to him.”
Speaking on comparisons of the squad which toured India recently, he said,
“It is pretty much the same squad here in Bangladesh. “Talking to a lot of the boys, we are quietly confident in our own processes to get the job done here in Bangladesh. “And personally, I am very happy with the way I am bowling.”