Nathan Lyon 'filthy' over Ashes axe as star teammate's humility shines
Dropped Test spinner Nathan Lyon was on Channel 7 yesterday bemoaning his demotion. While Mitchell Starc let his actions on the field do the talking.
Hubris and humility. Both were on show in the Aussie ranks as the second Ashes Test opened in Brisbane.
Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Starc boast outrageous wicket-taking careers. But the celebrated pair were polar opposites when quizzed on day one dramas at the Gabba.
While spin bowlers operate in a bubble of cunning, finesse and guile, there was no subtlety about Lyon after he was left out of the side to face England.
He had yet to discuss his demotion from the line-up in any depth with the coach or selection chairman before fronting an interview with Channel Seven to say he was “filthy” about the decision.
Lyon was informed hours earlier that the home side would take in an all-pace attack, giving him ample time to think about a public response that, when it came, smacked of entitlement.
Asked how the conversation with selection chair George Bailey went, Lyon responded: “Short … absolutely filthy but, yeah, I can’t do anything about it”.
He followed with: “I just haven’t had it in me to go and sit down with the coach (Andrew McDonald) and George at the moment.
“I’m letting things settle down in my own head.”
Oddly, they had settled enough to let the viewing public know what he thought.
Told in the interview he would be back for Adelaide, Lyon doubled down: “I’d like to hope so”.
Really? He considers himself an automatic selection whenever, wherever? And when things don’t roll his way he spits the dummy?
Sure, Lyon has taken 562 Test wickets and is third on Australia’s all time list behind Glenn McGrath (563) and the late great Shane Warne (708). That’s Hall of Fame stuff right there.
But are selectors not entitled to do their jobs, read the situation, and decide what the best line-up might be for any given Test?
They might well have made the wrong decision. England getting past 300 had the Poms taking first day honours, and plenty of former Test stars were voicing opinions that Lyon should have played.
But the veteran tweaker did not need to add to the pile on. His was a churlish reaction.
Compare that to Starc’s approach after a six wicket haul continued his stellar start to the Ashes and took him past ex-Pakistan paceman Wasim Akram as the most prolific left arm quick in history.
A reporter asked him if he should now be called the GOAT (greatest of all time).
“No, I won’t be calling myself that,” Starc smiled. “Wasim’s still a far better bowler than I am.
“So, as far as I’m concerned, he’s still the pinnacle of left armers and certainly right up there with (the best) bowlers to ever play the game.”
A humble attitude others might learn from.
Originally published as Nathan Lyon 'filthy' over Ashes axe as star teammate's humility shines
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