NATHAN Lyon is confident that he will be able to perform for Australia when it matters most for their upcoming Ashes series.<\/p>\n
The off-spinner has plenty of experience in the Ashes environment, having played 30 Test matches against England, in which he has claimed 110 wickets.<\/p>\n
With his record, Lyon should prove to be a huge benefit to Australia, considering that England has placed a priority on their pace bowling stocks, with the only full-time spinner in the squad being Shoaib Bashir, who currently averages 39 with the ball.<\/p>\n
Speaking with SEN Cricket, the 37-year-old acknowledged that he’s got an important role to play and is backing himself to deliver.<\/p>\n
But, as he notes, any success that Australia has in this series will come from every player in the XI contributing.<\/p>\n
“I know what my role is within the side,” he said during the third ODI between Australia and India.<\/p>\n
“I’ve got my self-belief and I’m extremely confident in the way the ball is coming out and my plans that I’ll come up with.<\/p>\n
“I know that I can play a role, and I know how big the role can potentially be within the whole series, so it’s not lost on me.<\/p>\n
“But the reality is that it is a team game, we need everyone standing up at the right time and in the Ashes, there are going to be big moments where you need to jump on and take it with both hands.”<\/p>\n
Lyon was also asked about what he would like to see in the pitches for the series, with the New South Welshman wanting to see an even battle between cricket’s two disciplines.<\/p>\n
“You look at Adelaide Oval, for me, (it) is the pinnacle,” he explained.<\/p>\n
“And I know everyone will say, ‘Oh, that’s because you worked there and you’re mates with the curator’, but Damian Hough is by far the best curator in the world in my eyes.<\/p>\n
“The way he produces a contest between bat and ball, and as a cricket fan, yes, I know that I’ll be there in the middle and playing on the surface.<\/p>\n
“But as a cricket fan, you want to see a contest between bat and ball because the best player will stand up in those conditions.”<\/p>\n
Lyon is expected to feature for Australia throughout the five-match series, which gets started on November 21 in Perth at Optus Stadium.<\/p>\n