Lyon: I’ll help Hartley and he’ll help me!

NATHAN LYON has dismissed the idea that his arrival at Lancashire will stunt the development of Tom Hartley, insisting the pair will work in tandem.

The Australian is preparing to make his debut for the county today when they host Surrey in one of seven first- class games he is permitted to play, as Cricket Australia manage his workload.

Hartley, who delivered a matchwinning second-innings haul of seven for 62 on Test debut for England in Hyderabad last winter, is excited about playing with Lyon, who holds the record for most Test wickets by an Australia off-spinner with 530.

But national coach Brendon McCullum raised fears that his young spinners will be marginalised in the county game to accommodate the likes of Lyon.

‘I know what Baz has come out and said and that’s all well and good, but I’m not here to take Tom’s spot,’ Lyon said. ‘I’m here to bowl in tandem with Tom.

‘If you can play two spinners in the side, in my opinion, you’ll win a lot of games of cricket. So I’m here to bowl in tandem with Tom and I’m happy to help Tom out along the way. No doubt he’ll help me as well with different skillsets, different mindsets and tactically.

‘There’s no secrets in what I do, so I’m more than happy to help out. If Tom calls me every day, sits down with me for a coffee every day to talk spin bowling, I’m more than happy to do that.’

Lyon enjoyed a first session in the Old Trafford nets yesterday before reflecting on his move.

Slow left- armer Hartley is someone Lyon — who confesses to being a ‘cricket tragic’ because he watches so many matches — has studied closely of late.

‘I was glued to that Test series against India,’ he said. ‘ To see Tom go over there, make his debut and play the five Test matches, I watched it quite closely.

‘He’s a talent, he’s only 24 and to see what he does, what I believe he can get better at, he’s got a big future ahead of him, which is exciting for English cricket and world cricket as well.’

Lyon (above) is also relishing sharing a dressing room with Jimmy Anderson, who at 41 is showing age is just a number.

‘I had lunch with Jimmy on Wednesday, which was pretty amazing — normally when I’m sitting down with him it’s having a couple of beers after a hard-fought Ashes series!’

Asked if he will still be going at 41 and whether, at 36, he has put a timeframe on how long his career has left to run, Lyon replied: ‘I’m not putting an endgame on it. Looking back at when my injury happened last year in England (a severe calf tear at Lord’s), it probably happened at the right time.

‘I was able to go home and was really frustrated and down, probably close to depression watching the guys go about it for the last three Ashes Tests.

‘But then I was able to watch the AFL (Aussie rules football) grand final and seeing the guys (Collingwood Football Club) go about it and win, that relit a fire.’