This is Nathan Lyon, the maestro of the Australian off-spin philosophy, who said he was motivated to conquer one of the last frontiers of world cricket: winning a Test series in India. Currently touring Sri Lanka for a two-match Test series, which they are already 1-0 up after an easy win in the opener. Reflecting on his team’s potential, Lyon said that when Australia had some of the world’s finest cricketers, their final aim of winning the Test series was still not achieved.
In an honest chat with ABC Sport, Lyon says the question in his own mind is whether the team that is playing for Australia now can be considered great. Lyon is proud of his mates, but he suggests there is still work to be done, notably when it comes to winning in India—a feat that has not succeeded for more than four decades.
“We haven’t won in India yet, and that’s something we want to change,” Nathan Lyon said. “But we’ve retained the Ashes twice in England, which is no small feat.” He also named other stars on the team like Steve Smith who just recently marked the milestone of 10,000 Test runs, and Mitchell Starc who has been instrumental for Australia’s bowling attack. For Lyon, with these superstars on the team, he says they’re already at the edge of great things.
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Lyon also spoke about the depth of the squad, pointing out that Australia’s success is not only due to the players on the field but also the talent available back home. With regular captain Pat Cummins taking paternity leave and others absent due to injuries, Lyon emphasized that it is a team effort, with players stepping in as needed.
“It’s not just the guys here, we have some unbelievable players at home as well,” he said, pointing to the importance of squad depth. Australia is a team with a steep cricketing history, winning six ODI World Cup titles and one T20 World Cup trophy.
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The Australian team was the best in the world in both formats in the early 2000s. Players like Ricky Ponting, Glenn McGrath, Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, and Shane Warne formed a very strong side that dominated world cricket. The team Lyon currently plays for is still on its journey but carries the ambition of living up to that legacy and achieving new heights, with the ultimate goal of winning a Test series in India.
