‘Best gloveman’ is a keeper for Lyon
TEST spinner Nathan Lyon has declared the presence of former captain Tim Paine won’t be a distraction in the build-up to the Ashes and demanded he play because he’s the “best gloveman in the world”.
Lyon said Paine, who quit the captaincy last week in the wake of his sexting scandal, had “100 per cent” support in the Australian dressing room as he prepared to join his Test teammates in Queensland following a final hitout for Tasmania on Friday.
Needing just one more wicket to reach 400 Test scalps, Lyon said the mood in Australian cricket was “incredible” on the back of victory at the T20 World Cup and it would not be altered by the tumult surrounding Paine.
“In my eyes Tim is the best gloveman in the country, in the world,” Lyon said on Thursday, less than two weeks out from the opening Test at the Gabba.
“I can 100 per cent guarantee he has the full support of the Australian changeroom. I don’t see him as a distraction at all. Come the Gabba Test match and throughout the whole series, we are professional sportspeople and we will go out and do our job.
“Tim made a mistake, he’s owned it. For me that shows great courage, to be honest. Tim has got my full support.
“I am looking forward to catching up as soon as we get out of quarantine.
“The selectors said they were going to pick the best available XI and in my eyes Tim Paine is the best keeper in the world. I want him. This is very selfish, from a bowler’s point of view, I want the best
gloveman behind the stumps.”
Lyon and Paine have played in 31 Tests together but didn’t combine for a single wicket in last summer’s series loss to India.
Earlier this week Paine played his first match since April, after serious neck surgery in September, in a second XI game for Tasmania, taking six catches providing
evidence his keeping at least is back to its best.
Lyon said going into a series as big as the Ashes was the most important thing from his perspective because bowlers want the best keeper working for them.
“Everyone will say you look at the movement around catching the ball, but I go off the sound of the ball hitting the gloves,” he said.
“If you actually listened to the sound it makes, that’s when you can tell someone is a decent keeper. I noticed that with Brad Haddin, but Tim Paine, it’s music to my ears.
“I’m speaking on behalf of every bowler and we want the best keeper and I can’t say it any more times, Tim is the best keeper in the world.
Lyon said he was “excited” that long-time state and Australian
teammate Pat Cummins could be named Paine’s replacement as captain.
Cummins and Steve Smith were interviewed by Cricket Australia on Tuesday amid growing speculation they will be confirmed as captain and vice-captain respectively.
“I am excited by the fact we are potentially going to have a bowler as captain,” he said.