The Ashes: My goal is to play all three formats, says Nathan Lyon
Nathan Lyon was left out of the first two Ashes Tests but returned to the line-up in the third at Old Trafford, where he picked just one wicket. He went on to prove his mettle in the fourth Test in Durham by picking seven wickets. That was followed by a three-wicket haul on day one of a two-day tour fixture against the England Lions in Northampton on Friday (August 16).
Nathan Lyon, the Australian offspinner, has outlined his goal of featuring in all three formats of the game after being left out of the national squad for the limited-overs series against England and Scotland starting August 29.
Australia's 18-man squad features only one specialist spinner in Fawad Ahmed, the uncapped legspinner, which means Lyon will return home to play for his new state side, New South Wales, following the conclusion of the fifth and final Ashes Test at The Oval.
Lyon's ODI career hasn't quite taken off since his debut in February 2012. With just two One-Day Internationals under his belt, the last of which came in March 2012, Lyon's reputation of being a bowler for the longer formats, where he has 84 wickets from 24 Tests, has gained steam. But that hasn't stopped him from harbouring thoughts of featuring in the 2015 World Cup at home.
"I definitely want to play one-day cricket - there's no doubt about that," said Lyon. "My goal is to play all three formats for Australia. The more chance you get to play cricket for Australia, the better for me. There is no point hiding behind it. I really want to play one-day cricket."
Lyon was left out of the first two Ashes Tests but returned to the line-up in the third at Old Trafford, where he picked just one wicket. He went on to prove his mettle in the fourth Test in Durham by picking seven wickets. That was followed by a three-wicket haul on day one of a two-day tour fixture against the England Lions in Northampton on Friday (August 16).
John Inverarity, Australia's national selector, said last week that Ahmed's inclusion in the ODI set-up provided them an opportunity to have him ready for the return leg of the Ashes series in November this year. Lyon minced no words when he admitted to being "hunted" with Ashton Agar and Ahmed breathing down his neck, but said he wasn't reading too much into Inverarity's comments.
"I'm not even thinking about it," said Lyon. "I'm not in the one-day squad - I'm here to hopefully win this last Test. Then we get home and get in the camp there at NSW and then we'll worry about the Australian summer when that comes."
Australia are scheduled to play two Twenty20 Internationals against England, an ODI against Scotland and five ODIs against England between August 29 and September 16. The squad, to be led by George Bailey, will be reduced to around 15 players after the T20 matches.