Nathan Lyon Urges AUS To Not Take SA Challenge Lightly: 'They Are Class...'
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Nathan Lyon cautions Australia against underestimating South Africa's batting ahead of the ICC World Test Championship final, noting the Proteas' strong form and key players.
As Australia prepares to defend their ICC World Test Championship (WTC) title at Lord's starting June 11, veteran spinner Nathan Lyon has warned his team not to underestimate South Africa's formidable batting lineup.
Despite entering the one-off final as favorites, Lyon remains cautious, especially given the Proteas' impressive form during the WTC cycle.
During Australia's training session in Beckenham, Lyon acknowledged that while past experiences in major finals could benefit his side, they won't hold much weight once play begins.
'Having the experience of the guys who have won three (50-over) World Cups and T20 World Cups and obviously the World Test Championship final a couple of years ago, that experience and that pressure in those higher games, it's going to be, it's on our side isn't it but it doesn't mean anything when you come to the game," Lyon was quoted by ICC as saying.
'South Africa have got some world class batters and obviously they've got some unbelievable bowlers there as well so it's going to be a good challenge and obviously it's a one-off Test match."
'It's going to be different challenge and with foreign conditions and the Dukes ball."
South Africa's strong performance in the ongoing red-ball circuit is catalyst for Lyon's concerns. Opener Ryan Rickelton arrives in London fresh off a blistering 259 in his last outing, while captain Temba Bavuma and middle-order mainstay David Bedingham both amassed over 600 runs during the WTC cycle.
Having closely followed South Africa's warm-up matches, Lyon identified Rickelton, Aiden Markram, and Bedingham as key threats.
'They're class players, there's no point hiding from that fact," he said.
Lyon, who last played in Australia's Test win over Sri Lanka in February, confirmed he is now fully fit and is match-ready after recovering from a hip issue.
'I haven't stopped training since the Sri Lanka series. I've been bowling for five to six weeks now, and everything — from my workload to how the ball is coming out — feels spot on," he added.
With both teams in possession of world-class bowling attacks with the challenging conditions of Lord's and the Dukes ball in play, Lyon anticipates a hotly contested match.
'It's going to be the two best bowling attacks going at each other. That's an exciting challenge for every batter out there," he commented.
(with IANS inputs)
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