Oz spinner ready to do the Lyon’s share in SA
Bowler key part of pace-heavy attack
It’s not often that Australia’s most experienced and important bowler is an off-spinner but Australia know what they have in Nathan Lyon.
The fast bowling unit that consists of Pat Cummins‚ Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc is one of the best in the world at the moment but they’re not complete without Lyon.
During the Ashes series‚ all of them took more than 20 wickets but Lyon bowled the most overs (260.1)‚ collected the most maiden overs (61) and had the lowest economy rate (2.36).
That proved to be the difference between Australia and England.
The squeeze was put on from one end by Lyon, while the fast bowlers took turns in picking off England’s batsmen.
Lyon knows his role very well and expects to be the punching bag with bat and ball ahead of the first test against South Africa that starts at Kingsmead tomorrow (10am).
“I think I’m going to be used as the punching bag. It’s a challenging one but that job is mine,” Lyon said.
“We’re going to be coming up against some of the best fast bowlers in the world but at the end of the day‚ you have to challenge yourself against the best players in the world, and what better place to do it.”
Lyon was a groundsman in Adelaide before he developed into Australia’s best off-spinner. He knows a thing or two about pitch preparation.
With the sides possessing venomous bowling attacks‚ viper pits masquerading as pitches won’t be served up in the four tests.
Lyon said slower surfaces should not come as a surprise for the series but the fast bowlers will still play a crucial role.