Overtaking Benaud means little to Lyon

Lyon said Friday he was not carried away by the prospect of overtaking legendary Richie Benaud to become Australia’s second most successful spinner during the forthcoming two-Test series against Bangladesh.

Off-spinner Lyon needs just one wicket to equal Benaud’s mark of 248 in the first Test beginning at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur on Sunday. A second scalp in the match will take Lyon, who has 247 wickets from 67 Test, just behind Australia’s all-time spin wicket-taker Shane Warne.

“I have always said from my first game to this game, I am not about personal success,” Lyon told reporters in Dhaka.

“I will sit back at the end of my career and look at where I get to

OFFSPINNER LYON NEEDS JUST ONE WICKET TO EQUAL BENAUD’S MARK OF 248 IN THE FIRST TEST

on the wickets column. For me, it is about playing well for the Australia cricket team,” he said.

All-rounder Shakib Al Hasan already delivered the opening salvo in the build-up to the Test match, claiming the hosts have a better spin attack than the Australians. Lyon was not prepared to join the debate.

“Both teams haven’t come up against each other so it is a big statement to come out and say that,” he said.

“But everyone’s entitled to their own opinion. We are just worried about what we are doing, to be honest.