Nathan Lyon plans to use slope at Lord’s to his advantage

Nathan Lyon has been an integral part of Australia’s Test setup for close to 12 years now. In 121 Test matches, Lyon has bagged 495 wickets. He performed commendably in the first Test at Edgbaston in the ongoing Ashes, finishing with match figures of 8/229.

Australian skipper Pat Cummins has acknowledged the impact of Lyon on more than one occasion after the first Test. The off-spinner will look to continue putting forth difficult obstacles against the English batters, when the second Test begins on Wednesday, June 28.

In 2019, when England and Australia met at Lord’s, Lyon took three wickets in the first innings but went wicketless in the second. The 35-year-old stated that he enjoys bowling at the iconic stadium, and also explained how bowlers can use the slope at the ground to their advantage.

“I actually really enjoy bowling here using the slope to our advantage as bowlers. I think you can bowl with it and hopefully spin [it] more or you can bowl up and use the angles and hopefully bring in both edges. I don’t think it’s one end got to be the spinners’ end or the fast bowlers’ end. You’ve got to have that ability to adjust and really enjoy that challenge of bowling with it or against type thing. So I think we can use it as a weapon up our sleeves,” Lyon was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

“[But] we’re not sure what the wicket is going to look like on day one, whether it’s going to be overcast or whatnot. So if the seamers do work and I don’t have to do much and that’s all well and good, but I’m happy to put my hand up in the tough situations and have a crack,” he added.

Nathan Lyon’s numbers at Lord’s

Nathan Lyon has been a standout performer for Australia, even in conditions which do not suit him. However, Lord’s has been one of the rare grounds where the veteran has struggled a bit. In two Test matches at the ‘Home of Cricket’, Lyon has bowled 70.1 overs and picked up just six wickets.

His economy rate is 3.56 at Lord’s, which is way higher than his career economy rate of 2.94. Even Lyon’s overall economy rate in England is just 3.00. It will be interesting to see how Pat Cummins uses his premier spinner against the attacking English batters.