Nathan Lyon, the spinner, was left out from the last Test of the recent West Indies tour. Lyon has been part of Australia’s XI for a very long time and had not missed a Test ever since his injury in 2013.
Australia’s decision to miss out Lyon and play four pacers in the third test was bold but he does understand why the decision was made although it did hurt him.
During an appearance with a corporate partner of his BBL team, the Melbourne Renegades, Lyon spoke for the first time since missing the Test on Tuesday in Melbourne.
“There’s no point hiding behind it, I was disappointed with the decision, but I totally understood it,” he said. “Disappointed on a number of levels: One, I believe I can play a role in any conditions, and I still honestly believe that. And then honestly, the other one was not to walk out on the field with Starcy. I’ve played 90-odd Test matches with Starcy, so to be able to walk out there with him in his 100th would have been amazing. But I was still there, running the drinks, and still part of it.
“I want to play every game for Australia, and I’ve just got that belief that I can play a role in any conditions, as every cricketer should have that belief.
“But at the end of the day, we can sit here and say hats off to them, they made the right call. And if I’m going to miss a game, Scott Boland is probably the guy you want to see go out there and perform. And for him to go out there and bowl like he did, like we always know he does, to take a hat-trick, was pretty special. And to witness the guys bowl them out for 27 that was pretty amazing.”
One of the reasons to drop Lyon could be his inexperience of playing the pink-ball test but he is sure to make his comeback and play all the Test in forthcoming Ashes series.
“I’m definitely not thinking about my place in the team,” Lyon said. “I know my role in the side, and the conditions really were the reason why I missed that Test match. But I’m fully focused on making sure that fitness levels are high, skill levels are high, leading into the first three Shield games and then into the Perth Test match. I love bowling in Perth. Love bowling all around Australia if I’m being honest with you, so no, I’ve got no doubts there.”
However, following Sam Konstas’ terrible Caribbean tour, there are questions regarding who will open for Australia alongside Usman Khawaja in the Perth Test. Lyon, however, urged the detractors not to be too harsh on the 19-year-old. Lyon has been a strong supporter of Konstas during his brief stint with the Australian squad, even inviting him to a private training camp in Brisbane before the WTC final.
“I think it’s been a massive learning curve for Sam,” Lyon said. “I don’t think we need to be so hard on him. I think he’s obviously young, and he’s still learning his game. And I think we’ve all, as Test cricketers, been through those periods throughout our career. It’s about, especially our senior players, making sure that we’re getting around him and making sure that he knows he’s got full support.
“I’m not a selector but I’d be surprised if he didn’t go on the [Australia A] tour to India. So, I think he’s going to have some cricket there, but then he’s obviously got Shield cricket as well. And like everyone, we want to go out there and perform for our states and make sure that we’re putting our hands up for national selection. No one’s got a given right to be picked for Australia. And so, it’s about us putting our arms around him, making sure that he goes out there and backs his skill and finds a method that he wants to bat with.”
Lyon was also hopeful that Marnus Labuschagne would bounce back soon.
“Marn’s upbeat, and so he should be,” Lyon said. “His Test record speaks volumes. He absolutely put a couple of coaches into the ground over there with the amount of training that he was doing. But that’s Marn. That’s the way he prepares. And he’s still a class player, and he will be for a long period of time. So I’m still expecting bigger and better things from Marnus.”
