Uprooting skipper in Aussie plan

EVERY Australian bowler will target England captain Joe Root in the Ashes series, offspinner Nathan Lyon says.

Lyon said he was not surprised to hear this week England quick Stuart Broad’s plans to nullify the Aussie captain Steve Smith ahead of the first Test in Brisbane from November 23.

And he has a message for Broad – Australia will do the same to their skipper.

“I know every team that comes over here targets the captain and I have no doubt, all our bowlers, we will be targeting Joe Root,” Lyon said.

“I am not surprised they are going to target Steve Smith.

“But Smith is the best batsman in the world in my book. He is more than happy to take on that pressure.

“He has been exceptional for us the last few years and I expect no difference from Steve (in the Ashes).”

Broad made no bones about the fact England’s bowling stocks had planned most on dismissing Smith in the five-Test series after the Australian’s 1237 Test runs in the past 12 months.

Only India’s Cheteshwar Pujara (1252) has scored more.

Lyon believed England had some weaknesses in a squad featuring recalled batsmen Gary Ballance and James Vince.