After being last year’s leading wicket-taker with 63 wickets at 23.55, Nathan Lyon has continued in his rich vein of form in 2018.
Those 2017 wickets included 8/50 against India in Bangalore, setting a new two-Test series record for Australia; 22 scalps against Bangladesh; and 21 wickets in Ashes, of which 18 were left-handed.
That performance came after being in danger of being dropped after the tour of Sri Lanka and his wicketless overs against South Africa at home.
On Day 2 he snapped Dean Elgar to a superb returning catch and sent dangerous Hashim Amla packing in the same over. Later on, when Quinton de Kock was just starting to get going with AB de Villiers at another end, he cleaned up De Kock before the talismanic Mitchell Starc did the rest of the damage.
Despite not having the best of backings from Steven Smith, he has surpassed expectations each time he stepped onto the field. In doing so he has gone ahead of Fawad Ahmed, Jon Holland, Michael Beer, Steve O’Keeffe, Ashton Agar and Xavier Doherty, who were rated and tried before him.
(AAP Image/Richard Wainwright)
His rise has been stupendous, from being a groundsman at Adelaide Oval to take a five-wicket haul on debut against Sri Lanka in the first Test, which set up the victory for the series.
Up to 2014 his average away from home was 39.15 in 19 Tests, but since then his overseas average improved to 23. No doubt his years of wisdom have done him a world of good.
Even in Australia compared to other spinners he does far better. Lyon averages 33 with a strike rate of 65 as compared to touring spinners who have a strike rate of 92.80 with an average of 52.
No doubt as the leading wicket-taker for Australia as off-spinner he is hailed greatest of all time.
But he is trusted only in the white ball arena. Until now he has played just 13 ODIs, the last of which was in 2016. He has never been given a fair stretch. Despite fielding questions time and time again during the 4-1 ODI loss to England, Lyon still can’t seem to find a place in the limited-overs format.
(AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
Even in the Big Bash League his record is excellent for a spinner. In 25 matches he picked up 36 wickets at an economy of 6.82, which is close to a run per ball in a what’s supposed to be a big-hitting format.
This season he played four BBL matches for the Sydney Sixers, and in one of them he picked up seven wickets at an economy rate of 5.88 in a man of the match performance. He has made clear his desire to be part of the world cup team in 2019 and to become the number one spinner for Australia in all formats.
Spinners can play until they’re around 38 years old, so at just 30 Lyon is halfway through his career. Looking at the spinners of the world in last ten years, Anil Kumble retired at 38 and Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne retired at 37.
Rangana Herath is still doing well at 39 and recently became a leading left-arm wicket-taker despite starting at 29. Given his purple patch, Lyon looks good to get 500 to 600 Test wickets.
When a guy is picking up wickets despite the ball and he’s in as good form as Lyon, he should be worth gambling on, and given the Kangaroos lack a premium spinner in the limited overs format, it’s worth giving Lyon a crack.
Saurebh Gandle
Roar Guru
Thanks kersi.I second your views
Kersi Meher-homji
Guest
Saurabh, I agree with you. This January I had also supported Lyon's inclusion in ODIs. See the link below: http://www.theroar.com.au/2018/01/23/admit-your-error-aussie-selectors-include-nathan-lyon-in-the-odi-team/
Patrick
Roar Pro
I would quite like to see Lyon playing ODI's. Ashton Agar is another potential option. He's a very good limited overs bowler, and can bat. One of the strengths of the 2015 World Cup Squad was its batting depth, with Faulkner, Johnson, Starc, and Cummins all batting at 8 or lower at various stages. Having these players can help make the last 10 overs more productive, and I think its important for all ODI teams to have bowlers who can bat. That's not to say that Lyon or Zampa shouldn't be selected, because bowling should always be the primary selection criteria for a bowler, but Agar does have that extra asset to offer. Even with Lyon or Zampa, Starc and Cummins still provide some batting capability down the order.
David
Guest
Sorry Saurabh, I disagree with you 100%. Lyon may do ok in an ODI but at what cost to his test form? There is no argument that he is our number 1 test spinner but if we put him into an ODI and the batsman get hold of him, will his test bowling change? I think it might. Even if he has some success in ODI's it may affect the way he bowls in tests. Do we want to risk his test form for the sake of the miniscule difference he would make to the short form teams? For me, the selectors have got this right, leave him for test cricket. Also, agree with Fergus. Smith threw him the ball in the 8th over of the first innings in SA. Not sure that Smith can be reasonably accused of not backing him!!!
Bakkies
Guest
I remember Brad Haddin smashing Warnie all over the park in a domestic comp match when it mattered. Hayden also gave him the long handle.
Fergus
Roar Rookie
Lyon got 7 wickets in his BBL campaign this year not 7 in a match, also it's red ball not white. Smith has his faults as captain but not backing lyon isn't one of them anymore. At times in the past he hasn't but since lyon's form reversal he has regularly given the bowl to him to attack. he backed him to the hilt in india and bangladesh and alot over this summer.
Saurebh Gandle
Roar Guru
But before that give him a chance to fail.Don't forget attack is the best form of defence.Everyone will have an off day, but if the number of good days makes up for a bad day, Lyon can be forgiven.England are doing well with all-out attack approach.No doubt why Lyon cannot succeed.
Paul
Guest
I recall watching some recent video of Lyon getting absolutely hammered in a couple of one day games - 22 off an over. Not saying he isn't worth a look heading into the World Cup but his strength is his attacking ability, which isn't always a good thing in ODIs.
Timmuh
Roar Guru
I suspect he has been left out of ODIs to allow him to concentrate on long form, especially while he was still developing an ability to be a good 3rd and 4th innings bowler. For quite a while he was a bounce bowler, more dangeros on days one and two than later in the match when you expect a spinner to take control. He is now much better in the second half of a Test than he was. It would not surprise at all to see him become part of the Limited Over set-up next home summer, leading in to the World Cup. Right now, results don't count, others can be tried. By next summer CA needs to start putting the WC squad together, Lyon may well be considered for that.