WATCH | Nathan Lyon Interview | On batting on one leg, ‘Tests’ and IPL 2024
Nathan Lyon limps and limps as he walks out to bat amid cheering spectators at Lord’s Cricket Ground.
Batting on one leg and clearly in discomfort due to a calf injury, Nathan added four runs off 13 excruciating balls in one of the most dramatic cricket moments as part of the England-Australia clash for Ashes 2023.
Nathan Lyon in ‘The Test’ | Photo Credit: Prime Video
Nathan’s wife Emma didn’t want him to bat in such conditions. Neither did his captain Pat Cummins or the team physio. Fortunately, head coach Andrew McDonald wanted him to bat, and Nathan immediately knew he would find a way out.
“A lot of people around the world go to work feeling uncomfortable. I know the importance of 10 to 15 runs in the Ashes, and I wanted to contribute. When I got the calf injury, I felt I let my teammates down and I just wanted to make sure I played a part and helped them,” Nathan said in a virtual interaction about a pivotal moment that is also detailed in the book. Test Season 3Currently streaming on Prime Video.
The Australian cricket team in ‘The Test’ | Photo Credit: Prime Video
Current session criterionThe Australian men’s cricket team will embark on a tough tour of England in 2023, where they will face India in the World Test Final and England in the Ashes. Apart from cricket moments, criterion There is also a glimpse into the conversations that happen in the locker room and how players deal with the challenges of balancing the game and their family lives at the highest level. “The team has superstars like Steve Smith and David Warner, but we are all human beings, and we see that element come through in our game. criterionIt’s important for everyone to realise that we make mistakes but we also try our best to go out there and win some games.”
Documentaries like these not only document the sporting moments but also give insight into the lives of the players and how they deal with success and defeat. Nathan agrees, “It’s a big deal, mate. I watch a lot of things like that. Quarterback, full swing And Tour de France: Unchained.My favorite Formula 1 documentary is, drive to survive. It has a lot of great insight into how individuals prepare for big moments, and it makes for a wonderful viewing for fans.”
Spin is on
Growing up in Australia, a country known for producing the best fast bowlers like Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee and Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon still wanted to get into spin, a skill you largely associate with the subcontinent. He idolised the late Australian spin legend Shane Warne. “Well, my brother (Brendon Lyon) and I idolised Shane Warne. It was very special to see him win matches for Australia, and so, Brendon started bowling leg-spin. I just wanted to be bigger and better than my brother.”
Today, with over 500 wickets to his name, Nathan is regarded as Australia’s most successful off-spinner and loves it when the ball spins. “I’ve been watching the IPL quite a bit now, and if I’m being honest, I would like to see the wickets come back a bit to see a fair contest between bat and ball. Spin is incredibly important in all formats of cricket. Whenever the ball spins, you get maximum eyeballs on the television. When we tour India for Test cricket and the ball spins, I think more people are watching it than any other time. I absolutely love it when the ball spins and see some batsmen panicking. Ravi Ash (Ravichandran Ashwin) has now flown the flag for it in the IPL and hopefully he does a great job in it,” says Nathan,
Nathan Lyon and Pat Cummins in ‘The Test’ | Photo Credit: Prime Video
Though he is not part of the IPL, Nathan swears by the five-day Test format, which he describes as the ‘pinnacle of cricket’. “For me, it’s a place where you can’t hide. If you can’t play the short ball, you can’t hide. You have to make sure your skills are good enough to compete with the best players in the world. T20 and one-day cricket are here, and Test cricket, well, is miles above.”
The Test: Season 3 is currently streaming on Prime Video
