Nathan Lyon wants to win Test series in India before retirement
The 37-year-old, who is the most successful off-spinner for Australia with 556 wickets in 138 Tests, has taken 130 wickets against India in 32 Tests (both home and away) but has never been a part of an away series win in India. In fact, Australia have not beaten India in their backyard since their "final frontier" triumph in 2004-05.
"I've always said I want to win away in India. I want to win away in England," Lyon was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au.
"We've got that opportunity in a couple of years' time, but we've also got to take it Test by Test and make sure that we're doing everything here in West Indies right," the spinner said.
"Then we've got a massive summer at home with the Ashes. But another World Test Championship final would be on my cards for sure," he added.
But Lyon has relinquished his duties in the Australian team as it's song-master, passing on the baton to wicketkeeper-batter Alex Carey, who fulfilled the duties during the dressing room celebrations after their 159-run win over the West Indies in the first Test.
The song, "Underneath the Southern Cross", is sung after every victory, led by the song master. This tradition, started by Rod Marsh, was passed on to Lyon by former Australia batter Michael Hussey.
In Tests, Lyon led the celebrations in 67 wins from 125 matches.
"I've been very honoured to firstly, lead the song, but to have it for 12 years, it's been one of the biggest highlights of my career," Lyon said.
"It definitely doesn't mean I'm retiring anytime soon. It's more about the team environment, making sure that I get the opportunity to pass it on to someone who I look at and absolutely love in the way he goes about it on and off the field and I just feel like Alex is the perfect candidate," he said.
Lyon said he now wants to sit back and "take it all in".
"I ran my race with it, and it's time for someone else to put their touch on it. I've loved having the privilege to lead the team song but now I can sit back and hopefully enjoy a few wins and just relax and take it all in," he said.
Australia will take on the West Indies in the second Test starting here on Wednesday.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NDTV
12 minutes ago
- NDTV
Australia Cancels US Rapper Kanye West's Visa Over 'Heil Hitler' Song
Australia has cancelled US rapper Kanye West's visa over his song glorifying Nazi leader Adolf Hitler, the government said Wednesday. The 48-year-old musician, who has legally changed his name to Ye, released "Heil Hitler" on May 8, the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. West -- whose wife Bianca Censori is Australian -- has been coming to Australia for some time because he has family in the country, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said. "He's made a lot of offensive comments. But my officials looked at it again once he released the 'Heil Hitler' song and he no longer has a valid visa in Australia." Burke said the rapper's cancelled visa was not intended for holding concerts. "It was a lower level, and the officials still looked at the law and said: You're going to have a song and promote that sort of Nazism -- we don't need that in Australia," he told public broadcaster ABC. Asked if it was sustainable to bar such a popular figure, the minister said: "I think what's not sustainable is to import hatred." But he said immigration officials reassess each visa application. 'Importing bigotry' Australian citizens have freedom of speech, Burke added. "But we have enough problems in this country already without deliberately importing bigotry." Kanye West's "Heil Hitler" song stirred public opposition last week in Slovakia when it was announced he would be playing a concert there in July. More than 3,000 people signed a petition against West's performance in the Slovak capital. The rapper -- a vocal supporter of US President Donald Trump -- is "repeatedly and openly adhering to symbols and ideology connected with the darkest period of modern global history", two groups behind the petition said. "Kanye West's concert in our city and our country is an insult to historic memory, a glorification of wartime violence and debasement of all victims of the Nazi regime," the petition read. In the "Heil Hitler" clip, dozens of Black men -- wearing animal pelts and masks, and standing in a block formation -- chant the title of the song, as West raps about being misunderstood and about his custody battle with ex-wife Kim Kardashian. The song ends with an extract of a speech by the Nazi dictator. West has also publicly endorsed fellow rapper and music mogul Sean Combs, who has been tried in New York for alleged sex trafficking and racketeering. The jury in that case is considering its verdict.
NDTV
an hour ago
- NDTV
"Cannot Pick And Choose": Ex-India Star Slams Jasprit Bumrah For Missing 2nd Test vs England
Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has slammed ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah for missing the second Test against England at Edgbaston, Birmingham. Pointing out Bumrah's absence, Pathan said that he could not "pick and choose" on which match to play in a bid to manage his workload. The Indian team decided to rest the right-arm pacer for the game, considering that it is a five-match Test series in England. Ahead of the tour, India's chief selector Ajit Agarkar had already mentioned that Bumrah would not play all the five matches. "If you are selected in the Indian team, you cannot pick and choose (which match to play) to manage your workload," Pathan said on Sony Sports. "There is no other bowler like him, he is world-class. But here, you are not missing the match because of injury but for workload management. "Now Akash Deep will take his place and be expected to do well as soon as he comes in - and maybe he does - but any bowler needs time to settle in. That continuity is needed." Right-arm pacer Akash Deep got included in India's playing XI for Edgbaston Test in place of Bumrah. India made two other changes as Washington Sundar and N itish Reddy were roped in for Sai Sudharsan and Shardul Thakur. Pathan further spoke on India's dependency on veteran pacers Bumrah and Mohammed Shami. The latter has not been selected for the ongoing tour of England. "This is why I have been saying that Indian cricket has to start thinking about playing without Bumrah and (Mohammed) Shami. They have to start planning for playing without them in Test cricket," said Pathan. "The main fast bowler of the lineup cannot play all five Tests overseas, so firstly, India don't have Bumrah's services throughout the series, and secondly, his replacement, a younger player, is only getting a chance to play when he doesn't. So he does not have stability. "This is the only overseas five-match series of the new World Test Championship cycle. This was the series in which Bumrah was needed most. If he had a niggle or an injury, I would understand. But just to manage his workload? Then I don't think this is coming to India's advantage," Pathan added.
News18
an hour ago
- News18
'If Bumrah Was Fit...': Finch Questions India's Decision To Bench Jasprit-Kuldeep
Aaron Finch has criticised India's decision to bench Jasprit Bumrah for the second Test against England, questioning the choice. Former Australian cricketer Aaron Finch has slammed India's decision to bench ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah for the second Test against England at Edgbaston, saying that if he was fit, then the Indian team should have picked 'the best bowler in the world', or at least Kuldeep Yadav. Given that India were 0-1 down in the five-match series, the second Test became an important point in the tie. With just a three-day break for the third Test at the Lord's, Bumrah 's participation became doubtful because of workload management. India decided to go with Washington Sundar as an option to extend their batting over a specialist spinner in Kuldeep. 'If Bumrah was fit to play, then surely you need to pick the best bowler in the world? At the very least, Kuldeep has the be in the XI if you're worried about taking 20 wickets," Finch tweeted on Thursday afternoon. If Bumrah was fit to play then surely you need to pick the best bowler in the world? At the very least Kuldeep has the be in the XI if you're worried about taking 20 wickets. Yes, he might be more expensive but he's the next best attacking option!— Aaron Finch (@AaronFinch5) July 2, 2025 Before the toss, the boundary ropes being brought in caught the eye of many at Edgbaston. With premier match winner Bumrah rested from the game, India brought in Akash Deep in his place while making two interesting changes, leaving out Sai Sudharsan for Sundar and replacing Shardul Thakur with Nitish Kumar Reddy. First Published: July 02, 2025, 19:18 IST
