Lyon shoots down Warne’s call to take a rest

AUSTRALIA’S Nathan Lyon yesterday shot down a suggestion from Shane Warne that he take a rest for the Sydney Test against New Zealand this week so leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson can make his debut. Cricket great Warne has championed Swepson and over the weekend flagged the idea of axing Lyon if selectors opt for one spinner in Sydney.

“Just giving Mitchell Swepson a taste of it, giving him a chance, I reckon it will pay dividends in the long run,”Warne said.

But Lyon, who took four wickets on Sunday to wrap up late New Zealand second innings resistance, said there was no way he would be standing aside.

“Did Warnie ever want a rest and give Stuart MacGill a go?” he asked, noting the lack of opportunity given to Warne’s leg-spin rival at the height of their careers. I won’t be resting. I haven’t met any Australian cricketers that would like to be rested.

“It’s that hard playing Test cricket, but it’s that rewarding as well so every opportunity you get to play cricket for Australia it means the world to us. So I can’t imagine Mitch Starc, Pat (Cummins) or Patto (James Pattinson) putting his hand up to say I need a rest.”