Latest news with #NathanLyon
Yahoo
28 minutes ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Scott Boland responds to calls for Nathan Lyon to lose Aussie spot in Ashes series
Scott Boland insists he's a 'better bowler' now compared to his last Ashes series and is excited by the prospect of facing England on our seamer-friendly wickets later this year. But the Aussie fan favourite doesn't expect veteran spinner Nathan Lyon to be dropped at his expense, despite former Test star Brendan Julian calling for selectors to use a four-pronged pace attack in at least some of the Ashes Tests. Boland had a dream Ashes debut during the home series in 2021-22 when he famously took figures of 6-7 in four overs during the Boxing Day Test as Australia retained the famous urn. Boland took 18 wickets at 9.55 in that Ashes series but struggled two years later in England, where he took just two wickets at 115.50 after featuring in just two Tests at Edgbaston and Headingley. But Boland's Test record at home is nothing short of extraordinary and the nature of Australia's pace-friendly pitches strengthens the case for his inclusion. The Victorian accepts that he's behind star pace trio Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood in the Aussie pecking order, but declared he'll be ready to go if called upon to get another crack in the Ashes. "I've obviously thought about it a lot since it happened in 2023," Boland said. "But I still think there were times in England where I bowled pretty well and just didn't get a wicket. I'm a better bowler than I was back then. I'm going to be in our conditions that I know really, really well. I'm hoping to put in some good performances." Boland was picked ahead of Lyon in Australia's last Test match in Jamaica, where he took a stunning hat-trick to help bowl the West Indies out for 27 as Australia completed a 3-0 series whitewash. It came during extreme extreme conditions in Jamaica played with a pink Dukes ball, but Boland can't see selectors going with a four-pronged pace attack again in Australia, particularly with all-rounder Cameron Green set to return to the bowling attack. Scott Boland throws Ashes support behind Nathan Lyon "I hope so, but probably not in Australia," Boland said. "Nathan's one of the best spin bowlers in the world, so I think he can bowl in any conditions. He's probably been the glue to our bowling line-up over the last few years. And then I probably see Greeny [Cameron Green] coming back and bowling a lot more, he obviously hasn't bowled for 12 months, so that probably hurts the chances of four quicks as well." Lyon has been an almost ever-present in the Test attack for more than a decade and is Australia's third-greatest Test wicket-taker of all time, with 553 scalps. However, he did find himself on the periphery in the previous home series against India, where he featured sparingly with the ball and only managed nine wickets across the five Tests. In comparison, Boland finished the series with the second-most wickets (21 @ 13.19 ) for Australia - just four behind Cummins (25 @ 21.36 ). And that was despite playing two fewer Tests than the skipper. And Boland expects the quicks will once again have a massive say during the Ashes, against the aggressive 'Bazball' approach of England's batters. RELATED: Ponting and co's 'mind-boggling' mistake as Brevis torches Aussies Huge boost for Scott Boland as Aussie great snubs Nathan Lyon Stuart Broad's cheeky 'cheat' response after landing Channel 7 gig "If the wickets stay similar to what they've been over the last few years, I think we're going to be in the game all the time," he added. "There were little parts of the England tour last time, when the ball sort of moved around and favoured the bowlers, but generally over there, the wickets have been a bit flatter. And then when you come to Australia, certainly the last three or four years, they've been bowler friendly."
Int'l Cricket Council
20 hours ago
- Sport
- Int'l Cricket Council
Boland primes for England face-off as Ashes beckons The Ashes, 2025/26
When asked if Australia might unleash four pacers against England during the Ashes, Boland backed compatriot Nathan Lyon to be the first choice for the host nation come the five-Test series. 'Not in Australia. Nathan is one of the best spin bowlers in the world, so I think he can bowl in any conditions. He's been the glue to our bowling lineup for the last few years.' Despite not being a certain in the Australian lineup, Boland emphasized on staying focused and delivering when he's put in the fray. 'I'd love to play all five, but I'd be hoping to play whatever comes up. A few years ago there were seven Tests in the summer and I was hoping to play a couple but didn't get any games. "And then last year there were only five Tests, and I got three, so I just got to be ready whenever the opportunity comes.' The Ashes, which will also be a part of the World Test Championship cycle, begins on 21 November, 2025.
Yahoo
06-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Huge boost for Scott Boland as Nathan Lyon overlooked in predicted Ashes Test team
Brendon Julian has made a number of shock selection calls for the first Ashes Test later this year, after insisting veteran spinner Nathan Lyon should be dropped and Scott Boland included in an all-out pace attack. The former Australia all-rounder also wants Marnus Labuschagne to come back into the Test side at No.3, Cameron Green to move down the order and the impressive Beau Webster to drop out of the starting XI altogether. Australia's five-Test Ashes series kicks off on November 21 in Perth, and Julian wants to see a number of big changes for the first match against England. He also believes Sam Konstas' struggles during the three-Test series against the West Indies has opened the door for Nathan McSweeney to be given another crack at opener alongside Usman Khawaja, having been dropped after the first two Tests against India last year. But Julian's biggest bombshell is the call to axe veteran spinner Lyon, who is Australia's third-greatest Test wicket-taker of all time, with 553 scalps. Lyon did find himself on the periphery in Australia's home series against India last summer, where he featured sparingly with the ball and only managed nine wickets across the five Tests. Lyon has been an ever-present in Australia's red-ball side for more than a decade but was dropped for Boland in the final Test against the Windies last month. The decision to play a four-pronged pace attack paid off handsomely as Boland took a hat-trick to lead an Aussie onslaught that saw the Windies bowled out for 27 and Pat Cummins' men complete a 3-0 series whitewash. And Julian believes it may have given selectors a blueprint about how to approach the Ashes series, on Aussie pitches more suited to the quicks. 'You don't play Nathan Lyon, that's my call,' Julian told News Corp. 'Well, if you look at Perth and Brisbane, day-night (Test in) Brisbane, Perth (is) quick and bouncy, who would you rather face? 'I think (Scott) Boland has forced his way back into the side, and you can't overlook him. The West Indies did it (played four specialist quicks) for 15 years. You have to play him (Lyon) in Sydney, play him in Adelaide, Melbourne, depending. But you know it's not the worst idea.' Boland's numbers from the last home Test series against India also provide another compelling case for his inclusion. The Victorian seamer finished the series with the second-most wickets (21 @ 13.19 ) for Australia - just four behind Cummins (25 @ 21.36 ). And that was despite playing two fewer Tests than the Aussie skipper. Fellow quick Josh Hazlewood was arguably Australia's best bowler in the opening Test against India in Perth, where he took five wickets. But after being rested for the second Test in Adelaide, he broke down with injury in Brisbane to present Boland with his opportunity. Mitchell Starc also impressed with 18 wickets @ 28.66 in the series and is considered a lock with Cummins in the Aussie pace attack. Marnus Labuschagne tipped to earn Test recall for Ashes Julian has also backed Labuschagne to force his way back into the Test team, off the back of some strong form in Australia's upcoming white-ball fixtures. Labuschagne is part of Australia's ODI squad that will play three matches against South Africa, following a three-match T20 series against the Proteas that starts in Darwin on Sunday. Labuschagne was dropped before the first Test against the Windies in June after a lean run of form with the bat across the last couple of years. But Julian admits that while runs will be important for Labsuschagne in Australia's ODIs against South Africa, his Sheffield Shield form for Queensland will ultimately decide if he earns a Test recall. RELATED: Pat Cummins makes call on Sam Konstas after struggles continue Marnus Labuschagne spotted in strange moment amid Aussie win Julian also doesn't see Green as a Test No.3 and wants the all-rounder to replace Webster at No.6, despite admitting the Tasmanian has been 'really, really good' since making his Test debut in the India series. And Julian reckons McSweeney will 'definitely play' in at least the first two Ashes Tests after struggling against India's Jasprit Bumrah last summer. Julian says McSweeney's 'technique is a lot better than Sam Konstas' and tipped him to open alongside Khawaja in the series-opener against England.
Daily Mirror
05-08-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Swerve common blueberry storage mistake that causes mould within days
Blueberries have a tendency to spoil rapidly, so it's best not to store them at room temperature. Here's the correct way to store them and extend their shelf life Blueberries can be made to last longer if you avoid a common step many people take when preparing and storing them in the fridge. Nathan Lyon, a chef, cookbook author, and host of A Lyon in the Kitchen on Discovery Health, has shared his top tips for keeping blueberries fresh. The celebrity chef is an Emmy nominee for his cookbook Great Food Starts Fresh, which retails for US$42.00 on his website chef Nathan Lyon. He also sells a children's book Sam The Clam and a list of 14 recipes that are high in fibre. As blueberries are known to spoil quickly, it's best not to leave them at room temperature, he advised Martha Stewart. His two key rules include: not washing them with water and avoiding overfilling one container with too many berries. This comes after a writer claimed 'I tried butter from Tesco, Aldi, Lidl and big brands - and the winner is not Lurpak'. If you find yourself with an excess of blueberries, they can always be used in a pie, as a dessert garnish or added to your morning yoghurt, reports the Express. Here's how to properly store blueberries To prolong the shelf life of blueberries, follow Washington State University's simple guide to freezing them. Firstly, give the blueberries a good rinse and ensure they're completely dry before freezing. It's vital to dry them properly to stop the berries from sticking together. Next, spread the washed and dried blueberries out in a single layer on a baking tray. This helps keep the berries separate and stops them from clumping together. Then, pop the baking tray into the freezer and let the berries freeze until they're solid. Once they're frozen, move the blueberries into an airtight container or freezer bag for long-term storage. Benefits of eating blueberries According to Healthline, blueberries contain a list of health benefits, mostly due to their high antioxidant content, including anthocyanins. This is known to protect consumers against heart disease, improve brain health, and potentially reduce the risk of certain cancers. A great source of vitamin C, vitamin K, and manganese, blueberries are known to be great 'brain food' for students, with certain studies suggesting the fruit can improve memory, prevent cognitive decline - some going as far to suggest they can delay age-related cognitive issues.
News.com.au
30-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Lyon nails Poms in three words as Aussie delivers perfect sledge over handshake furore
Nathan Lyon on Tuesday offered England's cricketers a word of advice on how they could've handled the end of the fourth Test against India more suitably, instead of offering an early handshake. 'Get them out,' came Lyon's blunt reply when asked at a sponsor function for the Melbourne Renegades. 'Don't let them get a hundred.' Lyon was pressed further but after laughing and composing himself, opted against fanning the flames further — but the subtle sledge was already out there. England sparked a frenzy at Old Trafford when captain Ben Stokes and his players forcibly tried to call an early draw in the Test while Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja were both chasing centuries in scenes dubbed 'shameless' by those watching on. The offer declined, England proceeded to bowl some poor deliveries via batter Harry Brook and sledge their Indian rivals until they reached their milestones. Lyon has been a keen observer of the series with the Ashes on the horizon, and was asked for his view on how the fourth Test reached its controversial conclusion. That's when Lyon said he would have taken the more conventional approach to stopping their charges to three-figures by getting Sundar and Jadeja out — an early sledge that will only add fuel to the fire of this summer's Ashes series. Meanwhile, in a further sledge, Lyon said England is transforming its once 'totally reckless' Bazball approach to mirror the win-orientated Aussies, and are now playing a style they have championed for the past decade. Lyon has often downplayed England's touted ultra-aggressive style under coach Brendon McCullum and repeated his analysis on Tuesday. England leads what has become a feisty series against India 2-1 heading into the final Test this week before it prepares for the upcoming Ashes in Australia with players including the world's No.1 batter, Brook, declaring his team has been 'too nice' in the past. Lyon, a self-labelled 'cricket nuffy', says he is watching the heated series with keen interest and is noticing a shift in the English way with winning now above entertainment in their goals. 'I think they're just doing what we've been doing for the last 10 years, playing a positive brand of cricket (and) trying to win games of cricket,' Lyon said. 'I think Bazball has honestly changed a little bit, they're now thinking about ways of how to win games, not being totally reckless. 'The conditions over here, it's always been a great competition between bat and ball … it's going to be challenging for their batters, challenging for our batters. 'At the end of the day and you want to see competition between bat and ball, I think that's crucial … all the fans, that's what they want to see as well.' Lyon was dropped for the first time in over a decade ahead of the final Test in the West Indies for eventual hat-trick taker Scott Boland. But the off-spinner isn't expecting to be carrying the drinks come the first Test at Perth Stadium later this year. Lyon says he is already studying the English and how he can navigate their aggressive style. 'I totally expect them to come out and attack me, I think every touring team comes and says they're going to attack the spinner,' he said. 'I am pretty used to that now, I've got no dramas with guys trying to attack me, it brings me into the game (and) I'm looking forward to that. 'I've got some plans and am already writing down a few things I want to try and put in play and working on. 'That's exciting, that's why you want to play against the best players in the game and they've got some of the best batters at the moment playing in their side. 'It's going to be a good challenge we should all be very excited about.' Cricket Australia confirmed on Tuesday that England would take on a PMs XI in a pink-ball contest in Canberra in the lead-up to the second Test at the Gabba, which will be a day-night affair.
