Nathan Lyon

Nathan Michael Lyon (born 20 November 1987) is an Australian international cricketer. He made his Test debut in 2011 and plays domestic cricket for New South Wales. Lyon is an off spin bowler and a lower-order right-handed batsman. As of June 2020, Lyon is the 16th-ranked Test bowler and 20th-ranked Test all-rounder in the world, according to the ICC Player Rankings. Considered the most successful off-spin bowler for Australia, Lyon holds the record for the most Test wickets taken by an Australian off-spin bowler, passing Hugh Trumble's 141 wickets in 2015.[3] In January 2021, Lyon played in his 100th Test match during Australia's series against India.[5]

Nathan Lyon
Nathan Lyon in 2013
Personal information
Full nameNathan Michael Lyon
Born (1987-11-20) 20 November 1987
Young, New South Wales, Australia
NicknameGarry,[1] Gazza,[2][lower-alpha 1] Lyno, Lion, GOAT,[3]
Height1.81[4] m (5 ft 11 in)
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm off break
RoleBowler
International information
National side
Test debut (cap 421)31 August 2011 v Sri Lanka
Last Test15 January 2021 v India
ODI debut (cap 194)8 March 2012 v Sri Lanka
Last ODI11 July 2019 v England
T20I debut (cap 77)29 January 2016 v India
Last T20I28 October 2018 v Pakistan
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
2008/09–2010/11ACT Comets
2010/11–2012/13South Australia
2011/12–2012/13Adelaide Strikers
2013/14–presentNew South Wales
2013/14–presentSydney Sixers
2017Worcestershire
Career statistics
Competition Test ODI FC LA
Matches 100 29 168 72
Runs scored 1,101 77 1,985 227
Batting average 12.23 19.25 12.88 14.18
100s/50s 0/0 0/0 0/2 0/0
Top score 47 30 75 37*
Balls bowled 25,690 1,626 40,378 3,913
Wickets 399 29 590 84
Bowling average 32.12 46.00 34.47 37.84
5 wickets in innings 18 0 20 0
10 wickets in match 3 0 3 0
Best bowling 8/50 4/44 8/50 4/10
Catches/stumpings 50/– 7/– 78/– 31/–
Source: ESPNcricinfo, 19 January 2021

Early career

Nathan Lyon moved from Young to Canberra as a teenager where he went on to play for ACT Cricket's under-17s and under-18s representative teams.[6] Lyon played for Western Districts and University of Canberra Cricket Club in ACT Grade cricket and debuted for the ACT Comets in 2008 in the Cricket Australia Cup against the South Australian Second XI where he claimed a wicket on day one.[7] During his time with Comets, Lyon was mentored by captain and later captain-coach, Mark Higgs, who helped him in his spin bowling, getting his bowling action right as well as the tactical side including what lines to bowl and fields to set. After Lyon left the Comets he continued to keep in contact with Higgs in regards to the game.[8]

In 2010 Nathan Lyon moved to Adelaide and worked as a member of the ground staff team at the Adelaide Oval.[9] He played for the Prospect Cricket Club in the South Australian Grade Cricket League while continuing playing for the Comets in the Futures League. After Lyon's performance in the 2010 Futures League Twenty20 in December for the Comets in Melbourne which South Australia's Twenty20 coach Darren Berry witnessed he was selected to play for the Southern Redbacks in the KFC Twenty20 Big Bash.[10]

Domestic career

In 2010–11 KFC Twenty20 Big Bash Lyon was the leading wicket-taker where the Redbacks went on to win the competition. Lyon went on to play for South Australia in the Sheffield Shield and the Australian domestic limited-overs competition.[11][12] In the same year he was selected to represent Australia A in Zimbabwe where he took 11 wickets in the tri-series to be named man of the series.[13] Nathan Lyon has signed to play in the inaugural season of the Big Bash League for the Adelaide Strikers.[12]

In 2013, Lyon returned to represent his home state New South Wales and Sydney Sixers.

In May 2017 it was announced that Worcestershire had signed Lyon as a replacement for compatriot John Hastings, who was competing in the ICC Champions Trophy.[14]

On 15 November 2017, during the final moments of the Sheffield Shield match against Queensland at the Allan Border Field, Lyon was involved in a bizarre incident, burning a piece of toast in the dressing room and causing the smoke alarm to go off, which brought the fire services to the ground and stopped play for 30 minutes.[15]

On 5 November 2019, Lyon signed for Hampshire as their overseas player for the 2020 season in Championship cricket in England.[16] However, this deal was later cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[17]

International career

On 26 July 2011, Lyon was selected in the Australian Test squad for the tour to Sri Lanka in 2011.[18] He took two wickets for Australia against the Sri Lanka Board XI in the three-day warm-up match at the Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu Stadium.[19] Lyon made his Test debut against Sri Lanka at Galle on 31 August 2011. Nathan Lyon took his first wicket off his first ball in Test cricket on 1 September 2011, his victim was Kumar Sangakkara. With this feat he became the third Australian (and seventeenth international player) to take his first wicket off his first ball in Test cricket, and the first Australian since Arthur Coningham, in 1894.[20] He finished with 5/34 in his first innings, becoming the 131st player to take five wickets on debut in a Test match.[21][22]

In November 2011, Lyon became just the seventh number 11 batsman to have the top score in his team's innings, when he scored 14 in Australia's second-innings total of 47 in the 1st Test against South Africa.[23] Nathan Lyon played his first Test in Australia at the Gabba starting on 1 December 2011 against New Zealand in the first Test match of the series. Lyon took 4/69 in the first innings and 3/19 in his second innings, culminating in match figures of 7/88, the best Test match bowling figures by an Australian off-spinner at the venue.[24] He played in three of the four Tests of the subsequent home series against India—being left out of the team for the third Test on the pace-friendly WACA Ground—taking seven wickets at an average of 41.57.[25] Former Australian off-spinner Ashley Mallett criticised Lyon's delivery method during the series, saying he had been bowling too wide on the crease.[26]

On 24 April 2013, Lyon was named as the only spinner in the upcoming 2013 Ashes series for the Australian squad. It held true until hours before the first match when he was dropped from out of the lineup in favour of shock debutant Ashton Agar, who then went on to score 98 on his Test debut, which was also a world record for a no. 11 batsman. However, Lyon was recalled to the team for the third Ashes Test, and in the fourth Ashes Test at Chester-le-Street, he took figures of 4/42 on the first day to help restrict England to 238 in their first innings. On 28 December 2013, during the Boxing Day Test match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Lyon took his 100th Test wicket and also his first five wicket haul in Australia.[27] He became just the sixth Australian off-spinner to take 100 Test wickets.[28]

On 5 January 2014, Lyon became only the second cricketer ever to not be dismissed in any innings during a five-Test series. Lyon made 60 runs during his six innings, with a strike rate of 52.63.[29] On 13 December 2014, Lyon was named man of the match in the first Test of the Border–Gavaskar Trophy series against India at the Adelaide Oval after taking a personal best haul for the match of 5 for 134 in the first innings and 7 for 152 in the second. This was the first match the Australian team had played after the death of Phillip Hughes just two weeks earlier. After taking the final wicket of the match to secure the victory for Australia, Lyon knelt down and patted Hughes's Test number 408 that had been painted on the field for the match.

In 2015, Lyon was not named in Australia's final squad of 15 for the 2015 Cricket World Cup. Xavier Doherty was picked in his place as a specialist spin bowler. In June 2015, Lyon took his 142nd Test wicket, passing Hugh Trumble to become the most prolific wicket-taker of all Australian off-spinners.[30]

Lyon made his Twenty20 International debut for Australia against India on 29 January 2016.[31] On 28 July 2016, Lyon became the first Australian off-spinner to take 200 Test wickets. He achieved this feat during the first Test against Sri Lanka at the Pallekele Cricket Stadium by dismissing Dhananjaya de Silva.[32] During the 2016 Test series between Australia and South Africa, the phrase "Nice, Garry!" became affectionately associated with Lyon after wicketkeeper Matthew Wade repeatedly yelled it after every ball bowled by the spinner. This phrase was adopted by cricket fans throughout Australia, elevating Lyon to cult hero status.[33] A Facebook campaign was started up for fans at the 2016 Boxing Day Test against Pakistan to yell "Nice, Garry!" in unison after Lyon's third ball bowled: however, their attempts were replaced by cheering, as he took the wicket of Sami Aslam with his third delivery.[34]

On 4 March 2017, in the second Test between Australia and India in Bangalore as part of the 2017 Australian tour of India, Lyon took figures of 8/50 and finished with the best figures ever recorded in India by a visiting bowler.[35] On 27 August 2017, Lyon became the 8th Australian bowler and the second Australian spinner after Shane Warne to take 250 Test wickets. He achieved this feat during the first Test against Bangladesh at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium by dismissing Mehedi Hasan Miraz. In September 2017, in the second Test between Australia and Bangladesh in Chittagong as part of the 2017 Australian tour of Bangladesh, Lyon took match figures of 13/154 and finished with the best figures ever recorded in Asia by an Australian bowler. He also took the most wickets in a two-Test series by an Australian bowler (22).

Having missed out on the Champions Trophy squad, Lyon replaced John Hastings to play for Worcestershire.[36] In 2017, Lyon became an Australian Apprenticeships Ambassador for the Australian Government.[37] He would finish the year by taking more Test wickets than anyone else (63).

On 6 March 2018, Lyon was fined 15 per cent of his match fee for a breach of the ICC Code of Conduct during the first Test against South Africa in Durban.[38] Lyon took his 300th test wicket during the 3rd test in Cape Town by dismissing Kagiso Rabada out stumped.[39] In April 2018, he was awarded a national contract by Cricket Australia for the 2018–19 season.[40][41] Lyon finished the India-Australia test series with 21 wickets and as the highest wicket taker, along with Jasprit Bumrah.[42]

Lyon awarded the Men's Test Player of the Year at the Allan Border Medal ceremony by the CA in 2019.[43] In April 2019, he was named in Australia's squad for the 2019 Cricket World Cup.[44][45] In July 2019, he was named in Australia's squad for the 2019 Ashes series in England.[46][47] In the first test of the 2019 Ashes his figures of 3/112 in the first innings 6/49 in the second innings helped Australia to win a test at Edgbaston for the first time in 19 years. Australia went on to retain The Ashes for the first time in 18 years. In November 2019, Lyon took seven wickets in two Tests against Pakistan, including a five-wicket haul in Adelaide.[48] In the following series against New Zealand, Lyon was the leading wicket taker between both sides, finishing the series with 20 wickets as Australia won the series 3–0. This was capped off with match figures of 10/118 in the New Year's Test in Sydney, taking five wickets in each innings.[49]

On 16 July 2020, Lyon was named in a 26-man preliminary squad of players to begin training ahead of a possible tour to England following the COVID-19 pandemic.[50][51] On 14 August 2020, Cricket Australia confirmed that the fixtures would be taking place, with Lyon included in the touring party.[52][53]

Personal life

Nathan Lyon has two children with ex-partner Mel Waring. The couple's separation was made public in 2017 when photos emerged of Lyon kissing real-estate agent Emma McCarthy in his car.[54]

Awards

ICC Test Team of the Year : 2018, 2019

Australian Men's Test Player of the Year : 2019

Notes

  1. after the Australian Rules footballer, Garry Lyon[2]

References

  1. "Nice, Garry!". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 26 March 2017.
  2. Nishad Pai Vaidya (20 November 2016). "Nathan Lyon: 12 facts you should know about Australia's leading contemporary Test spinner". Cricket Country. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  3. Barrett, Chris (13 June 2015). "Record-breaking Nathan Lyon eager to get at England's left-handers in Ashes". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
  4. "Nathan Lyon". cricket.com.au. Cricket Australia. Archived from the original on 16 January 2014. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
  5. "Brisbane Test: Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon completes 100 Test matches". India Today. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  6. Steve Larkin and Chris Dutton (27 July 2011). "Lyon a shock pick in Aussie squad". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 27 July 2011.
  7. Kyle Mackey-Laws (28 October 2008). "Comets fight back late with ball". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  8. Daniel Brettig (27 August 2011). "Lyon learns from his mentor's mistakes". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 30 August 2011.
  9. "Nathan Lyon Profile". ESPNcricinfo. 27 July 2011. Retrieved 27 July 2011.
  10. Will Brodie (26 July 2011). "Aussies urged to support shock spin selection". The Age. Retrieved 2 August 2011.
  11. James Buckley (23 January 2011). "Former ACT Comet Lyon backed for quick spin into Redback's Sheffield Shield plans". The Canberra Times. Archived from the original on 3 October 2011. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  12. "Ferguson signs with Strikers". Sportal. Cricket Australia. 7 July 2011. Archived from the original on 10 July 2011. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
  13. James Buckley (24 May 2011). "Having a bash leads to Australia A selection for Lyon". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  14. "Nathan Lyon: Worcestershire sign Australia spinner as cover for John Hastings". BBC Sport. 2 May 2017.
  15. "Burnt toast stops play". ESPN Cricinfo. 16 November 2017.
  16. "Nathan Lyon joins Hampshire on red-ball deal for 2020". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  17. "Nathan Lyon: Australia spinner's deal at Hampshire cancelled". BBC Sport. 10 April 2020. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  18. "Nathan Lyon named in Australia Test squad for Sri Lanka". BBC Sport. 27 July 2011. Retrieved 27 July 2011.
  19. Malcolm Conn (28 August 2011). "Michael Clarke may play spin duo Michael Beer and Nathan Lyon in first Test against Sri Lanka". Herald Sun. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
  20. "Records Test matches Bowling". ESPNcricinfo. 1 September 2011. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
  21. "Bowling records". ESPNcricinfo. 1 September 2011. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
  22. robelinda (1 September 2011), NATHAN LYON 5/34 ON DEBUT! 1st TEST vs SRI LANKA 2011 GALLE, retrieved 9 January 2017
  23. Hogan, Jesse (11 November 2011). "Skittled: the numbers behind the cricket mayhem". The Age. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
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  25. "Records / Border-Gavaskar Trophy, 2011/12 / Most wickets". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 28 January 2012.
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  28. Saltau, Chloe (29 December 2013). "Nathan Lyon reaches 100 wickets as tide starts to turn". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
  29. Saltau, Chloe (5 January 2014). "The Ashes: Australian player ratings". The Age. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
  30. cricket.com.au (12 June 2015). "Proud Lyon reflects on history" via YouTube.
  31. "India tour of Australia, 2nd T20I: Australia v India at Melbourne, Jan 29, 2016". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  32. "Second-youngest to score 150-plus against Australia". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
  33. "The phrase taking Australia by storm". NewsComAu. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
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  35. Ferris, Sam (4 March 2017). "The day a killer Lyon eight India". Cricket.com.au. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
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  37. Training, Australian Government Department of Education and. "Australian Apprenticeships Ambassadors". Australian Apprenticeships. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  38. "Lyon found guilty of breaching the ICC Code of Conduct". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
  39. Sam Ferris (25 March 2018). "Lyon joins elite with 300th Test scalp". www.cricket.com.au.
  40. "Carey, Richardson gain contracts as Australia look towards World Cup". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  41. "Five new faces on CA contract list". Cricket Australia. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  42. https://www.cricketaustralia.com.au/about/awards-and-events/australian-cricket-awards
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  48. Wu, Andrew (6 January 2020). "Honours keep coming as Lyon gets on board with Warner's call". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  49. "Usman Khawaja and Marcus Stoinis in expanded Australia training squad for possible England tour". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
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