Australian cricket 2024: Nathan Lyon declares the quartet of Test bowlers can continue in baggy green for years to come

Australia has a swath of Test ready bowlers itching for a chance – a chance they may never get as ageing quartet Starc, Hazlewood, Lyon and Cummins have no plans to hand it over.

As Australia prepares to confront what could be its most turbulent transition period since Shane Warne, Nathan Lyon is adamant the bowlers are going nowhere and can hold the fort.

Following the retirement of David Warner, the spotlight is now on batting greats Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith and a host of other ageing stars in a Test team where only two players are under the age of 30.

Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood have just turned 34 and 33 respectively, while Lyon will be 37 by the time next summer’s heavy-duty Test series against India gets underway.

Test captain Pat Cummins is the youngest of the bowlers at 30, but Lyon is adamant that age is just a number for an Australian quartet who now boasts a record that eclipses even their boyhood idols Warne, Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie and Brett Lee.

Nathan Lyon celebrates another wicket with Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Lyon insists the bowling attack can provide stability for years to come in what shapes as an era of change for Australia.

“Yeah I do, I honestly do feel like that,” Lyon said.

“Especially when you look at the amount of Test cricket we’re playing, especially over the next couple of years. There’s some decent breaks there which will definitely allow the three big quicks to hopefully stay fit and strong and keep moving forward, and it’s the same boat for myself.

“It’s pretty special to be a part of. But the amazing thing is the journey isn’t over either. We’ve still got a lot of Test cricket to play and we all hold Test cricket as the pinnacle, so we want to make sure we’re trying to play as many games as we can as a bowling squad.”

There are real concerns over Australia’s batting depth and how many run-scorers are waiting in the wings, ready-made for Test call-ups.

Lance Morris was in the Test squad for much of the summer but has been kept out of the side by the evergreen veterans. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

However, an upside down issue exists for selectors when it comes to the bowling attack.

With the likes of Lance Morris and Spencer Johnson looking cherry ripe in domestic cricket, the question is, how do you blood these talents when you have such an established and successful – but ageing – bowling juggernaut in operation?

Morris and Johnson would appear ready for a taste of Test cricket if it came to them now, but who knows where they will be when opportunities actually do arise.

Just look at Michael Neser, who is perhaps Australia’s most accomplished current domestic cricketer, but may never play another Test, or Scott Boland, who has one of the most dazzling 10-Test careers in the history of the game but whose chances are also fading.

The unapologetic argument from the big four bowlers is that caps were never given out easily to them when they were coming through and the likes of Mitchell Johnson, Ryan Harris and Peter Siddle were dominating for Australia.

Starc and Hazlewood had to bide their time, while it took years for 500-wicket star Lyon to feel fully established.

Test matches are as precious as gold and must be hard-earned.

That said, Australia’s horror loss to the West Indies in Brisbane is the second time in recent years the side has slumped to lose the last Test, after backing in the same four bowlers through an entire summer.

Three out of the four members of the most successful bowling quartet in Test cricket – Nathan Lyon, Mitch Starc and Pat Cummins. Picture: James Worsfold – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images

It is something selectors must ponder ahead of India’s arrival for a marathon five-Test series, even though there is also risk involved in blooding untried bowlers at Test level against such formidable opposition.

Overall, it’s a good problem to have because it’s testament to the greatness of the current bowling attack.

During the summer, Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood and Lyon became the most successful quartet in Test history, an incredible achievement for four men who grew up watching perhaps the greatest Australian Test team of all time conquer the world.

“It’s hard to believe,” Lyon said.

“We grew up watching Warne, McGrath, Gillespie and Lee, especially those four, and idolising them.

“To now be part of, in my eyes, a pretty amazing bowling attack is pretty remarkable from where we’ve been able to come from, all starting together and obviously all being NSW-based players as well.

“It’s pretty remarkable and special and something I know I’m very proud about being part of that bowling quartet and I think we should be proud of what we’ve been able to achieve.”

Originally published as Australian cricket 2024: Nathan Lyon declares the quartet of Test bowlers can continue in baggy green for years to come