AUSTRALIAN off-spinner Nathan Lyon is excited for the nation\u2019s upcoming test schedule.<\/p>\n
Due to the COVID pandemic, the Australians haven\u2019t played a Test series overseas since the 2019 Ashes in England.<\/p>\n
While since that time the Aussies have had 10 wins, two losses and two draws record at home which has seen them regain the top place in the ICC test rankings, Lyon isn\u2019t yet buying into the hype.<\/p>\n
The team\u2019s first challenge away from home will be a three-test away series in Pakistan this March, and Lyon says the team is keen to \u201cchallenge\u201d themselves in a different environment.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think the depth of Australian cricket is really strong at the moment,\u201d Lyon said on SEN 1170 Drive<\/em>.<\/p>\n \u201cBut the big challenge for us moving forward is actually performing outside of Australia.<\/p>\n \u201cWe all know how hard it is to win tests overseas, we\u2019ve got some big challenges ahead.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s judge ourselves on our performances overseas.\u201d<\/p>\n One of the reasons Lyon and his teammates are so keen to test themselves overseas is due to the fact that it\u2019ll be Pat Cummins\u2019 first series away from home as captain.<\/p>\n While he\u2019s only skippered the nation in five tests thus far, Lyon says the impact he\u2019s already had while in charge has been noticeable.<\/p>\n \u201cIt [Cummins\u2019 captaincy] has been really good to be honest with you,\u201d Lyon said.<\/p>\n \u201cObviously being a bowler – and it helps when it\u2019s one of your best mates as captain as well – you\u2019ve always going to support him and you\u2019ve always got the confidence in him to do an amazing job.<\/p>\n \u201cBut I think Patty has been absolutely brilliant, he\u2019s been a big driver in being really calm and relentless.<\/p>\n \u201cI think that\u2019s really allowed a lot of us players to go out there and play the brand of cricket that they want to play and go out there and perform and put on a show for everyone.<\/p>\n \u201cI think that\u2019s been a big driver and hats off to Patty, to be honest.\u201d<\/p>\n Australia\u2019s first Test in Pakistan is set to begin on 3 March in Karachi. The series will then head to Rawalpindi before the third and final Test which will be played in Lahore.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n