LYON & LAMBS
Aussie spinner-sledger rips into England insisting they were all terrified of Mitch Johnson... and promising more nightmares this time
MAYBE the birthday celebrations had started early.
Maybe all the waiting for the Ashes to begin had finally got to him, or maybe he needed to lash out after causing a Sheffield Shield match to be suspended when he burnt his toast.
Whatever the reason, Australia spinner Nathan Lyon took preAshes sledging to a new level as he let rip at England’s cricketers with unvarnished delight and put the odd former foe in his crosshairs.
Mitchell Johnson’s pace was the star turn and Lyon’s glee at those bragging rights remains undimmed as he was asked who he thought was most unsettled by the pace of his team-mate.
“One to eleven,” said the 30-year-old. “I was at leg slip and I nearly had to push a couple of the guys back towards the stumps. It was good fun.
“Being part of that squad was unbelievable, and it’s one of my fondest series. Seeing Mitchell Johnson scare all the Poms was unbelievable. An unbelievable feeling. Knowing they are broken. Leading into Perth we knew they were broken.
“We knew Matt Prior wanted to fly home before the game started and he was one of the senior players. He was scared. It’s four years ago. I think he’s all right now.”
Prior played in Perth and put on 76 with a century- scoring Ben Stokes as part of a pretty impressive 79-Test career.
Averaging more than 40, Prior should not really have to worry about what happened in a difficult series all round, but this is Australia and the sledges are as subtle as the heat in the outback.
“That’s absolutely laughable,” said Prior ( below) in response. “If that was the case and I was scared why didn’t I go home then? I have no idea where this has come from. “Of all the things he could have come up with? That’s completely ridiculous and all I can do is laugh. It’s wholeheartedly untrue. I stayed out there and what hurt me more was I got dropped for the last two Tests because I wasn’t playing well. “I think Nathan Lyon has other things to worry about without thinking about me. I will be watching with interest to see how he goes.”
Lyon also took aim at his old club mate Joe Root. He used to give the England captain throw downs and help with his bowling. Not so much now.
“I played with Joe Root for Prospect Cricket Club in Adelaide and I’m good mates with Joe, so I know him pretty well,” he added.
“I know Root got dropped last time when he was here, so it would be good to get him dropped again. That would be good, wouldn’t it?
“I don’t want Joe to go out there and say ‘Mate, there you go, here’s a hundred today’. I want to take his wicket, to put him under pressure. Test match cricket is about being resilient.”
For Lyon this winter, it is also going to be about living up to the hype he was so keen to provide.