‘Ask the selectors’: Nathan Lyon stumped by T20 and ODI snubs
NATHAN Lyon wants to join David Warner and Steve Smith as Australian stars picked in all three formats but has no idea what he has to do to earn white-ball selection.
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NATHAN Lyon wants to join David Warner and Steve Smith as Australian stars picked in all three formats but has no idea what he has to do to earn white-ball selection.
New Zealand legend Brendon McCullum said Lyon was Australia’s only irreplaceable bowler as the Ashes star ripped through the Melbourne Stars, claiming 3/18 at the MCG on Tuesday night.
Lyon, 30, played the last of his 13 One Day Internationals and sole Twenty20 international in 2016, seemingly only considered for Test squads last year.
Lyon has no idea why he has been consistently overlooked and said there was no reason why he couldn’t be selected off the back of Test performances.
Lyon snared 21 wickets during the Ashes, more than any Englishman.
“I don’t know (what they want to see),” Lyon said after sparking Sydney Sixers to consecutive BBL wins.
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“Ask the selectors. I’ve got no idea.”
Stars legspinner Adam Zampa has been backed in as Australia’s white-ball specialist as the 2019 World Cup in England draws closer.
Zampa claimed two wickets from five BBL games for the Stars and then recorded 0/72 in Sunday’s ODI against England.
Lyon said he and Australian coach Darren Lehmann had not spoken about his white-ball prospects.
“No (conversation). None,” Lyon said.
“I got asked if I was playing the Big Bash and I said, ‘Yeah, definitely. I play every game I can for the Sydney Sixers’.”
Lyon holds a stingy ODI record. While the offspinner has claimed only 17 wickets from 13 matches, his economy rate is an impressive 4.9.
Lyon was on a hat-trick after he dismissed Kevin Pietersen and Ben Dunk in consecutive balls during the Stars’ powerplay and later added Pete Handscomb to his list of scalps.
“I definitely want to play every form of cricket for Australia,” Lyon said.
“I also think you can earn your way (in) through the Test team as well. I’m still learning in T20 cricket, and I’m still learning in Test match cricket.
“My best ball went for six. Test match length will obviously hurt you in T20 cricket, but you’re going to have to be able to adapt.”
Lyon helped adapt to the Big Bash by bowling with former coach and mentor Darren Berry before the MCG clash.
Berry first picked Lyon for South Australia in the first step on his journey to Australian ranks.
Originally published as ‘Ask the selectors’: Nathan Lyon stumped by T20 and ODI snubs