Lyon keen to perform

SECURING a home semi-final for the Sydney Sixers is not the only thing Nathan Lyon will be gunning for when he plays his first BBL match this season against Melbourne Stars tomorrow.

While knowing a win will lock up second spot for the men in magenta, Australia’s No.1 spinner also knows a big individual performance will go a long way to securing his place in the national squad for the World Cup.

He has been given plenty of reassuring pats on the back that he will be involved in the World Cup, but the 31-year-old has not forgotten he was dropped less than four months before the last World Cup and had to watch from the sidelines as Australia won the title on home soil.

“[For] my World Cup campaign, my selection will hopefully start here on Sunday,” he said. “I just need to keep putting in good performances with the ball and make sure I can keep playing my role with whatever side I’m in.”

Lyon’s limited-overs career has been stop-start. He’s only played 17 ODIs and just two T20 internationals.

Recalled for last month’s series against India, he took combined figures of 0-109 in the first two matches and was dropped for the series decider.