Nathan Lyon reveals how he plans to help Cooper Connolly emerge as Test spin bowling option

Cooper Connolly has only bowled 96 balls in his first-class career – yet will head to Sri Lanka as a potential Test spinner. Nathan Lyon details why he thinks the Test bolter can have an impact.

Nathan Lyon says he’s ready to play the role of mentor to 21-year-old Cooper Connolly as he returns to the venue where he launched his own Test career 14 years ago.

The Australian spinner debuted against Sri Lanka in Galle back in 2011 and still remembers the way Mike Hussey and other senior members of the team took the time to teach him what Test cricket was all about.

Connolly has been picked for his first tour as a handy left-arm spin option, but one who has only delivered 96 balls so far in his four-game first-class career.

Lyon has launched another brilliant initiative in his support for Australia’s blind, deaf and intellectual disability teams, by putting three exclusive bats up for auction with all proceeds to go to supporting cricketers with disabilities.

There are plenty of bats signed by teams or random players, but what Lyon has organised during the summer is a rare legends series, with one bat signed by batting greats Steve Smith and Virat Kohli, another bat signed by fast bowling captains Pat Cummins and Jasprit Bumrah, and a third willow signed by Lyon and fellow off-spinning great, Ravichandran Ashwin.

Lyon has played with and against these legends for more than a decade, and now he’s determined to make youngsters like Connolly the beneficiary of his wisdom.

“It’s one of those ones I feel like I’ve got a lot of knowledge to pass on to especially the younger spinners and hopefully I can do that along our journey and help the guys out here and there and pass on a little bit of wisdom hopefully,” Lyon said.

“I’ve only ever spoken to Cooper about finger spin when he was running the drinks a couple of years ago at the Test match in Perth and he told me he’s more a batter. I haven’t seen him close up with the ball in hand so I’m looking forward to that.

“What I have seen in Shield bowling or Big Bash, I do feel like that Cooper would be able to play a role (with the ball). It’s just about making sure our preparation (is spot on), and the conversations that’s going to be had between the spin bowlers and Dan Vettori our spin coach are going to be pretty crucial.

"This (Test) team needs to start to regenerate, and who they bring in to do that's going to be really interesting."

A player Ricky Ponting's got his eye on to help that process in Sri Lanka: Cooper Connolly 👀 pic.twitter.com/oOgZiz5mlI

— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) January 8, 2025

“It’s going to be pretty exciting to have someone like Cooper on the tour … all the senior players are there to help and guide them as well.”

The spate of seam-friendly pitches rolled out this summer limited Lyon to the lowest summer workload of his career.

In Adelaide he bowled just one over, and at home in Sydney, he was limited to just six overs at the supposed home of spin bowling in Australia.

Lyon revealed he has also been battling a mystery hip problem through the summer – an irritated bursa, which he has received a cortisone injection for to give him long-lasting anti-inflammatory assistance and pain relief.

It’s not a serious issue (a fluid filled sac that sits over the gluteal tendon on the outside of the hip) and not one that has any impact on his bowling.

Cooper Connolly is a chance to play his first Test in Sri Lanka. Picture: Philip Brown/Getty Images

But Lyon got the jab as he looks ahead to a major bump up in the overs he will be called upon to bowl in the spin haven that is Sri Lanka.

“I’m just managing that little niggle and ensuring that my prep is right so we’re in a really good place to get over and compete against Sri Lanka,” Lyon said.

“It’s going to be a tough challenge and my main focus now is getting ready for Sri Lanka.

“It (irritated bursa) doesn’t impact bowling but I wanted to get rid of that come the Sri Lanka Test matches so I’m ready to fire from all cylinders because I dare say the workload is going to be a lot different to the home summer.”

Cooper Connolly drives for Australia A.

Lyon was reluctant to pile in on the Sydney Test pitch but said he hopes a better balance is struck for next year’s Ashes Test at the SCG.

There was no shortage of tension between India and Australia during the summer but Cricket Australia’s All Abilities Ambassador said India’s champions were all too eager to support his passion for supporting cricketers with disabilities.

“Not one of them hesitated in signing the bats, which is amazing and really speaks volumes of each and every one’s character,” Lyon said.

“Yes, we play cricket competitively against each other but we also want to improve the growth and support for many people around the world.

“They all wanted to help raise some money and show that cricket really is a sport for all.”

*To participate in the auction for Lyon’s rare, collectors’ edition ‘Sport for All’ bats signed by legends of the game, please go to taverners.org.au and go to the Bat Auction tab.

Originally published as Nathan Lyon reveals how he plans to help Cooper Connolly emerge as Test spin bowling option