Nathan Lyon’s rallying call for Australia after Sri Lanka win: ‘We’re not great yet’

They hold every available bilateral Test trophy as well as the World Test Championship crown, but Australia are still not a great team yet, according to Nathan Lyon.

They hold every available bilateral Test trophy as well as the World Test Championship crown and have qualified for this year’s final.

But the current group of Australian Test cricketers are still not yet a great team, according to the side’s most capped player.

And while securing a series win at Galle International Stadium this week will be an important step on the road to greatness, Nathan Lyon is determined to make it to 2027 in a bid to secure elusive series wins in India and England.

After a quiet home summer in which he was laboured courtesy of a left hip issue, Lyon return to prominence with match figures of 7-135 as Australia thrashed Sri Lanka by an innings and 242 runs inside four days in Galle.

But while the Warne-Muralitharan Trophy has been locked away, the Aussies are hungry to win the series outright when the second and final Test begins on Thursday. Australia last won a Test series in Sri Lanka in Lyon’s debut campaign of 2011.

Nathan Lyon took seven wickets in the first Test against Sri Lanka, and wants to play on til 2027 at least. Picture: Ishara S.Kodikara/AFP

“I feel like that’s a lot of motivation within the Australian cricket team, to go out there (and win the series),” Lyon said.

“And I know it’s gonna be challenging. We don’t know what the conditions are going to be, whether it’s going to be flatter or more fun to bowl on. It’s going to be a challenge, and it’s about us on our journey to become a great team to make sure we go 2-0 up.”

Lyon said the ruthlessness shown by the Australian attack to wrap up the first Test with 15 wickets in two sessions on day four was a template for the Aussies as they seek to cement their legacy.

“I think if we’re able to as a bowling group, we’re able to bowl our best ball over and over the majority of the day, that is about being ruthless,” the veteran off-spinner said.

“We want to become a great Australian team. We’re on that journey. We’re not there yet. We’re on that journey, and that’s our end goal.

“And part of that journey is making sure that when we close the window ...we don’t let anyone back in. So it’s all about being ruthless.”

The Aussies were beaten 2-1 in India in both 2017 and 2023, and drew both the 2019 and 2023 Ashes series 2-2. Their next chance to improve on those away results will be 2027, by which point Lyon will be 39, but the 135-Test tweaker is in no rush to finish.

Nathan Lyon is still chasing his first Test series win in India. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

“We haven’t won in India. We haven’t won, we’ve retained last two Ashes away. So there’s a few things that for me, this is only me and my thoughts as well, but we’ve got some great players in that change room, and there’s no point in hiding behind that.

“You got Smithy (Steve Smith) bringing up 10,000 (runs), Starcy (Mitchell Starc), who’s around the corner from 100 Test matches. So there’s, there’s great players there, but I feel like we’re on the journey to becoming a great Australian team. And I think that’s an incredible journey to be a part of. And it’s not just the guys here. We’ve got some unbelievable players at home as well, whether injury or on (paternity) leave or whatever it may be. So it’s a squad mentality.”

Lyon meanwhile shed light on the hip complaint that contributed to him not playing a part in this summer’s Big Bash League.

“Apparently I ripped the deep tissue off the fascia, whatever that means. A bit of blood, excess blood…not ideal.”

He added that the injury could be painful if he landed on the hip but that he hadn’t been troubled by the issue in Galle.

Originally published as Nathan Lyon’s rallying call for Australia after Sri Lanka win: ‘We’re not great yet’