Lyon shoots down calls for him to be be rested for Swepson

By Scott Bailey / Wire

Nathan Lyon has shot down Shane Warne’s call for him to be rested for Mitchell Swepson, asking if the champion legspinner ever would have done the same himself.

Nathan Lyon has delivered a stinging response to Shane Warne’s suggestion he could be rested from the Sydney Test to allow fellow spinner Mitchell Swepson to debut.

“Did Warney ever want a rest and give Stuart MacGill a go? I won’t be rested,” said Lyon on Monday.

Swepson is a small chance to play in this week’s third Test against New Zealand, particularly if the SCG wicket is expected to turn.

The Queensland leggie’s most likely path to a Baggy Green would be if selectors opted to play two spinners, as they did most recently in Sydney in 2017.

Veteran offspinner Lyon said he would embrace the chance to play alongside a frontline legspinner for the first time in his Test career – but he has no interest in sitting out for the 26-year-old.

Spin great Warne declared this week Australia should do whatever they could to get Swepson in the side with the series win already wrapped up, even if it meant Lyon missing the Test.

Warne famously fell out with former captain Steve Waugh when he was dropped for MacGill and Colin Miller to play in spin tandem in the 1999 Frank Worrell Trophy series in the Caribbean.

“I haven’t met any Australian cricketer yet who would like to be rested,” Lyon said.

“It’s that hard to play Test cricket but it’s pretty rewarding as well. Any opportunity you get to play for Australia means the world to us.”

Lyon’s opportunities of playing with another spinner in Tests have been rare, although he and legspinner Adam Zampa spoke in the lead up to July’s one-day World Cup of the advantage of having two bowlers spinning the ball different ways.

“Obviously legspinners bring different opportunities to the game,” Lyon said. 

“I really enjoy bowling with another spinner as well. We get through our overs quite quickly and we feel like we can build some pressure here and there. 

“If Sweppo does get his opportunity, to play with a legspinner would be pretty exciting. But it’s not up to me to make that call.”

Swepson toured alongside Lyon to India and Bangladesh in 2017, and can now push his claims as the country’s No.2 spinner.

He trained with the team in Melbourne, and has taken 12 wickets at 26.58 in the Sheffield Shield this year. 

“I had a really good couple of chats with him during the week, just sitting on the boundary there after watching him bowl in the nets,” Lyon said. 

“I hadn’t seen him bowl for a while, but he seems really clear on his plans. 

“We just spoke about not changing when he gets the opportunity at the highest level.

“What’s worked has obviously got him here so if he gets his opportunity I just said ‘stay strong to yourself and back yourself’.”

The Crowd Says:

2019-12-30T18:41:06+00:00

Gee

Roar Rookie


Except if the leggie was named Stuart MacGill.

2019-12-30T08:38:16+00:00

DaveJ

Roar Rookie


It’s not a match anyone should be rested for, given every match offers points towards the Test Championship. It might be based on some dodgy conditions and programming, but Australia wants to qualify for the final. Don’t think Lyon has any big games coming up after the Tests.

2019-12-30T06:16:10+00:00

JGK

Roar Guru


Did Warne really say that?

2019-12-30T06:09:14+00:00

Dan in Devon

Guest


Warne is right to point out that the selectors need to develop spin bowling depth. Playing Swepson at this point is an opportunity Australia can afford and would give selectors a chance to see if he has what it takes to become a long term option at test level. In particular, it would allow selectors to look at Swepson in view of the upcoming tour of Bangladesh where they will need a second spinner.

2019-12-30T05:25:25+00:00

Big Daddy

Guest


Why would you want to change a winning combination to fit in a second rate spinner. Marnus has showed he's competent enough to fill the void.

2019-12-30T04:59:29+00:00

Paul

Roar Guru


Ricky Ponting also made the comment that baggy greens have to be earned and right now, Swepson hasn't done enough to justify Lyon being dropped so he can earn his. Warne should stick to what the talks about best, leg spin bowling only and keep his mouth shut when it comes to any issue requiring more intelligence.

2019-12-30T04:13:28+00:00

Damo

Guest


Warney would pick a 17yr old 2nd grade leggie over an offie if he could.

2019-12-30T03:52:03+00:00

Nick

Roar Guru


Warne is a complete pelican.

2019-12-30T01:58:59+00:00

Brainstrust

Roar Rookie


Warne had an operation and didnt even bother to rest himself after that which led to his failure in the West Indies and cost Australia a series win.

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