‘I thought you were smarter,’ Lyon taunts media

Nathan Lyon taunted media by saying “I thought you were smarter than that” as heinsistedhiscontroversialcomments about ending English careers during the Ashes were just a smokescreen.

Lyon found himself in the firing line over his remarks before the first Test, but he said he was being deliberately provocative to take the heat off Australia’s left-field selections.

Australia’s all-time leading offspinner said he had no regrets about the comments, when asked on Friday if he would say the same thing again.

“I took a lot of pressure off Tim Paine and Cameron Bancroft, I thought you guys (media) were a little bit smarter than that but it is what it is,” Lyon laughed.

“I am not going to stand back from what I said and I am confident in my own bowling.”

Lyon told reporters ahead of the first Test that many in the England squad remain shaken after their 5-0 defeat in Australia four years ago, and that Australia hoped to “end careers” in the current series.

Lyon, 30, was one of Australia’s stars as the hosts fought back to dismiss the tourists for 302. They trail by 137 runs with six wickets in hand after day two in Brisbane.

After a spectacular run-out on day one, Lyon claimed two wickets off 36 overs as the Australians captured the last six English wickets for 56 on Friday. Lyon, dubbed the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) by team-mates and media, has now taken 271 wickets in 70 Tests, the most wickets by an Australian off-spinner.

“I feel like I am bowling very well, so I am excited at where it’s going,” he said. “My confidence has grown a large amount over the last 14 months.”