The legendary Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne has recently advised giving rest to the experienced spinner Nathan Lyon for the upcoming Sydney Test to watch out the 26-year-old leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson. However, Lyon has dragged Warne’s example and clarified that he has no intention to take a rest at the present moment.
The 32-year-old off-spinner Nathan Lyon is one of the best off-spinners in the present cricket world. With the time progress, he has become one of the most effective bowlers for his national side. Picking up 380 wickets in 95 Tests, Lyon is now the third most Test wicket-taker for Australia.
Australia are currently busy in the three-match home Test series against New Zealand, where they have already secured the series by leading it 2-0 with one to go. In the second Test of the series, while Australia won by 247 runs, Nathan Lyon scalped four wickets in the fourth innings. While he has taken ten wickets in this Test series, he is the most wicket-taker as a spinner and fourth-most wicket-taker in the overall of this series.
While the third Test of the series will begin on 3rd January at Sydney, Shane Warne has advised giving rest Lyon from the dead-rubber Test match to test the leggie Mitchell Swepson, who has played only T20I for Australia.
Nathan Lyon has recently reacted on Warne’s comment. He pointed out that Warne never took a rest in his career to give a chance to Stuart MacGill. Similarly, Lyon has no intention to skip any Test match soon.
Lyon said according to ESPNcricinfo, “Did Warney ever want rest and give Stuart MacGill a go? I won’t be resting. I haven’t met any Australian cricketer yet who would like to be rested. It’s that hard to play Test cricket but it’s pretty rewarding as well. Any opportunity you get to play for Australia means the world to us.”
To play with a leg spinner would be pretty exciting – Nathan Lyon
The Queensland leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson has taken 12 wickets in four matches of the ongoing season of Marsh Sheffield Shield (2019/20). While Swepson is currently busy in the Big Bash League 2019/20, the Brisbane Heat spinner is the most wicket-taker for his team (five wickets in three matches).
Nathan Lyon wants to play with Swepson in the forthcoming Sydney Test against New Zealand, as the off-spinner is excited to play with a leg-spinner.
Lyon clarified, “I really enjoy bowling with another spinner as well. We get through our overs quite quickly and we feel like we can build some pressure here and there. If Sweppo does get his opportunity, to play with a leg spinner would be pretty exciting. But it’s not up to me to make that call.’
During the Birmingham T20I against England on 27th June 2018, Mitchell Swepson made his international debut and ended up that game as the best bowler for his team (4-0-37-2). However, England won that T20I by 28 runs.