Lyon: Australia Is Progressing Toward Greatness
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Synopsis
Galle, Feb 3 (NationPress) Veteran off-spinner Nathan Lyon emphasizes that the Australian Test team is on a journey toward greatness in the longer format. After a dominant win in Sri Lanka, he expresses the team's motivation and potential for future success.
Key Takeaways
- Nathan Lyon believes the team is progressing toward greatness.
- Australia achieved a significant win against Sri Lanka.
- The team has notable players like Steve Smith and Mitch Starc.
- Future goals include winning the Ashes and Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
- Younger spinners Todd Murphy and Matthew Kuhnemann show promise for development.
Galle, Feb 3 (NationPress) Veteran off-spinner Nathan Lyon asserts that the current Test squad is on the path to achieving greatness in the longer format of the game, which he identifies as their ultimate objective.
Australia kicked off their tour of Sri Lanka with a commanding victory – winning by an innings and 242 runs in the first match at Galle, shortly after they regained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with a 3-1 series win against India.
"I shared a drink with Mitch Starc after the match, and we discussed this. There’s a strong sense of motivation within our team. We are focused on our journey towards becoming a great team, aiming for a 2-0 lead. We’re progressing, but our ultimate goal is still ahead of us.
"We aspire to be recognized as a great team, and part of this journey involves closing doors securely and not allowing any opportunities to slip by. This is my perspective, but we have exceptional talent in our dressing room.
"Take Steve Smith reaching 10,000 runs, and Starc nearing 100 Test matches. And it’s not just about the players here; we have outstanding talents at home, whether they are injured or on parental leave. It’s all about squad mentality, and that’s how it should be," Lyon expressed to the media on Monday.
He further noted that Australia has yet to secure the Ashes in England or win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in India, both of which could be feasible by 2027. "There are several milestones we need to reach. This is my personal viewpoint. Our dressing room is filled with remarkable players, and there’s no reason to downplay that.
Lyon has collaborated with fellow spinners Todd Murphy and Matthew Kuhnemann, and he believes that these young bowlers have significant potential for growth.
"We’re making progress, but there’s still much room for improvement. It’s about being relentless. Each of us brings unique skills and mindsets to the table. I feel as though I’m learning from both Todd and Matt, and I hope to impart some knowledge to them as well.
Lyon, who claimed seven wickets in Galle, concluded by mentioning that he still experiences discomfort in his left hip, an injury sustained during the home summer. "Fortunately, I didn’t have to land on it today, so everything is fine. They say I tore the deep tissue off the fascia [hip muscle], whatever that entails. There was some excess blood or something involved. Not ideal, but I’m good now," he wrapped up.
