Nathan Lyon

Nathan Lyon
Refer to caption
Lyon in December 2009
Personal information
Full name Nathan Michael Lyon
Born (1987-11-20) 20 November 1987
Young, New South Wales, Australia
Nickname Garry,[1] Gazza,[2][lower-alpha 1] Lyno, Lion, GOAT[3]
Height 181 cm (5 ft 11 in)[4]
Batting Right-hand batsman
Bowling Right-arm off break
Role Bowler
International information
National side
Test debut (cap 421) 31 August 2011 v Sri Lanka
Last Test 7 October 2018 v Pakistan
ODI debut (cap 194) 8 March 2012 v Sri Lanka
Last ODI 24 June 2018 v England
ODI shirt no. 67
Only T20I (cap 77) 29 January 2016 v India
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
2008–2010 ACT Comets
2011–2013 South Australia
2011–2013 Adelaide Strikers
2013–present New South Wales (squad no. 67)
2013–present Sydney Sixers (squad no. 67)
2017–present Worcestershire
Career statistics
Competition Test ODI FC LA
Matches 78 13 123 55
Runs scored 692 46 1,375 182
Batting average 11.72 23.00 12.61 14.00
100s/50s 0/0 0/0 0/2 0/0
Top score 47 30 75 37*
Balls bowled 16,728 720 27,690 2,959
Wickets 306 17 407 71
Bowling average 31.78 34.82 35.65 33.64
5 wickets in innings 12 0 12 0
10 wickets in match 2 n/a 2 n/a
Best bowling 8/50 4/44 8/50 4/10
Catches/stumpings 32/– 2/– 50/– 25/–
Source: ESPNcricinfo, 7 October 2018

Nathan Michael Lyon (born 20 November 1987) is an Australian international cricketer. He holds the record for the most Test wickets taken by an Australian off-spin bowler, after passing Hugh Trumble's 141 wickets in 2015, thus earning the nickname amongst teammates of "GOAT", which stands for "Greatest of All Time".[3]

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-19s representative teams.[5] 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.[6] 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.[7]

In 2010 Nathan Lyon moved to Adelaide and worked as a member of the ground staff team at the Adelaide Oval.[8] 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.[9]

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.[10][11] 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.[12] Nathan Lyon has signed to play in the inaugural season of the Big Bash League for the Adelaide Strikers.[11]

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.[13]

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.[14]

International career

On 26 July 2011, Lyon was selected in the Australian Test squad for the tour to Sri Lanka in 2011.[15] He took two wickets for Australia against the Sri Lanka Board XI in the three-day warm-up match at the Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu Stadium.[16] 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.[17] He finished with 5/34 in his first innings, becoming the 131st player to take five wickets on debut in a Test match, and the 15th Australian player to take a caught-and-bowled dismissal on the final ball of the innings.[18][19]

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.[20]

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.[21] 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.[22] Former Australian off-spinner Ashley Mallett criticised Lyon's delivery method during the series, saying he had been bowling from too wide on the crease.[23]

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.[24] Lyon became just the sixth Australian off-spinner to take 100 Test wickets.[25]

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.[26]

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 passing of Phillip Hughes just two weeks earlier. After taking the final wicket of the match to secure the victory for Australia, Lyon knelt down, 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.[27]

He made his Twenty20 International debut for Australia against India on 29 January 2016.[28]

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.[29]

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.[30] 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.[31]

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.[32]

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.[33]

In 2017, Lyon became an Australian Apprenticeships Ambassador for the Australian Government.[34] 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.[35] Lyon took his 300th test wicket during the 3rd test in Cape Town by dismissing Kagiso Rabada out stumped. [36]

In April 2018, he was awarded a national contract by Cricket Australia for the 2018–19 season.[37][38]

Notes

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

References

  1. ↑ "Nice, Garry!". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 26 March 2017.
  2. 1 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. 1 2 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. ↑ Steve Larkin and Chris Dutton (27 July 2011). "Lyon a shock pick in Aussie squad". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 27 July 2011.
  6. ↑ Kyle Mackey-Laws (28 October 2008). "Comets fight back late with ball". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  7. ↑ Daniel Brettig (27 August 2011). "Lyon learns from his mentor's mistakes". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 30 August 2011.
  8. ↑ "Nathan Lyon Profile". ESPNcricinfo. 27 July 2011. Retrieved 27 July 2011.
  9. ↑ Will Brodie (26 July 2011). "Aussies urged to support shock spin selection". The Age. Retrieved 2 August 2011.
  10. ↑ 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.
  11. 1 2 "Ferguson signs with Strikers". Sportal. Cricket Australia. 7 July 2011. Archived from the original on 10 July 2011. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
  12. ↑ James Buckley (24 May 2011). "Having a bash leads to Australia A selection for Lyon". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  13. ↑ "Nathan Lyon: Worcestershire sign Australia spinner as cover for John Hastings". BBC Sport. 2 May 2017.
  14. ↑ "Burnt toast stops play". ESPN Cricinfo. 16 November 2017.
  15. ↑ "Nathan Lyon named in Australia Test squad for Sri Lanka". BBC Sport. 27 July 2011. Retrieved 27 July 2011.
  16. ↑ 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.
  17. ↑ "Records Test matches Bowling". ESPNcricinfo. 1 September 2011. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
  18. ↑ "Bowling records". ESPNcricinfo. 1 September 2011. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
  19. ↑ robelinda (2011-09-01), NATHAN LYON 5/34 ON DEBUT! 1st TEST vs SRI LANKA 2011 GALLE, retrieved 2017-01-09
  20. ↑ Hogan, Jesse (11 November 2011). "Skittled: the numbers behind the cricket mayhem". The Age. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
  21. ↑ Jim Morton (5 December 2011). "Lyon gives Gabba record books a tweak". Australian Associated Press. The Canberra Times. Retrieved 8 December 2011.
  22. ↑ "Records / Border-Gavaskar Trophy, 2011/12 / Most wickets". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 28 January 2012.
  23. ↑ "Ashley Mallett's counsel heeded on Lyon". ESPNcricinfo. 21 January 2012. Retrieved 28 January 2012.
  24. ↑ "Nathan Lyon enters 100-wicket club in Tests". The Cricket Country. India Webportal Private Limited. 28 December 2013. Retrieved 28 December 2013.
  25. ↑ Saltau, Chloe (29 December 2013). "Nathan Lyon reaches 100 wickets as tide starts to turn". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
  26. ↑ Saltau, Chloe (5 January 2014). "The Ashes: Australian player ratings". The Age. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
  27. ↑ cricket.com.au (12 June 2015). "Proud Lyon reflects on history" – via YouTube.
  28. ↑ "India tour of Australia, 2nd T20I: Australia v India at Melbourne, Jan 29, 2016". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  29. ↑ "Second-youngest to score 150-plus against Australia". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
  30. ↑ "The phrase taking Australia by storm". NewsComAu. Retrieved 2017-01-16.
  31. ↑ "'Garry' rocks Boxing Day with timely wicket". cricket.com.au.
  32. ↑ "Lyon tears India apart with eight-wicket haul". cricket.com.au.
  33. ↑ "Lyon ready for English county debut". Sydney Sixers. Retrieved 2017-05-03.
  34. ↑ Training, Australian Government Department of Education and. "Australian Apprenticeships Ambassadors". Australian Apprenticeships. Retrieved 2017-05-18.
  35. ↑ "Lyon found guilty of breaching the ICC Code of Conduct". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
  36. ↑ https://www.cricket.com.au/news/nathan-lyon-300-test-wickets-australia-south-africa-cape-town/2018-03-25. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  37. ↑ "Carey, Richardson gain contracts as Australia look towards World Cup". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  38. ↑ "Five new faces on CA contract list". Cricket Australia. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
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