Nathan Lyon openly admits 'Australia are not a great team'

Australia's legendary spinner Nathan Lyon has mentioned his desire to win a Test series in India. Lyon is currently in Sri Lanka for a two-match Test series in which Australia are already 1-0 ahead after winning the first match.

Lyon also mentioned about the legendary cricketers like Steve Smith and Mitchell Starc who have been up there with the team for a long time and feels that this team is on the way to becoming a great Australian team.

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"We haven't won in India" - Nathan Lyon

During a conversation with ABC Sport, Nathan Lyon asked if the current Australian team are a great cricket team. Lyon was further asked what needs to be done for this team to get to that point.

The off-spinner was honest as he mentioned the team's inability to win a Test series in India so far. He believes that the team has some of the greatest players like Steve Smith and Mitchell Starc and they are on the way to becoming a great Australian team.

"Well, there's a few things, we haven't won in India, We've retained the last two Ashes, away. So, there's a few things that for me, this is only me and my thoughts as well. But, we've got some great players within that change room. There's no point hiding behind that, you look at Smithy (Steve Smith) bringing up 10,000 (runs)," Lyon said.

"You've got Starcy (Mitchell Starc) in my eyes, who's got around the corner from Test matches. So, there's great players, but I feel like we are on the journey to become a great Australian team. And I think that's an incredible journey to be a part of it," he reckoned.

Is this Australian team one of the 'great' Test teams? Or not yet?

Nathan Lyon was asked that very question in Sri Lanka. pic.twitter.com/tKwNgk322r

— ABC SPORT (@abcsport) February 3, 2025

Nathan Lyon believes that the current group need to win in India and an Ashes series away to become a truly great team.

READ: https://t.co/WZEIN9K8Oz pic.twitter.com/om4WToBJuF

— CODE Cricket (@codecricketau) February 3, 2025

Nathan Lyon reflects on the current Australian team's mindset

Nathan Lyon also spoke about the players who are not a part of the current squad. Australia are without their regular captain Pat Cummins, who didn't travel with the team in Sri Lanka as he took a paternity leave.

"It's not just the guys here, we have got some unbelievable players at home as well, whether an injury or on maternity (paternity) leave or whatever it may be. So, it's a squad mentality and that's the way it should be," the offspinner said.

Australia are known to produce some of the greatest players of all time. It reflects on the results as well. They are the winners of the ODI World Cup for a record six times and have also won a T20 World Cup title to their name.

In the early 2000s, Australia had one of the greatest-ever teams across both formats. Almost all the players of their team were stars and genuine match-winners on their day. Some of those great players who were part of the team are Ricky Ponting, Glenn McGrath, Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, and Shane Warne.

Australia go 1-0 up against Sri Lanka

Australia won the first Test against Sri Lanka recently in a dominating fashion. They defeated the hosts by a huge margin of an innings and 242 runs and showed their prowess on a pitch made for the spinners.

Nathan Lyon picked up seven wickets in the match as he finished with figures of 3-57 and 4-78. Apart from him, the left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann picked up nine wickets in the match.

It was Australia's biggest-ever Test win against Sri Lanka. It was also Sri Lanka's biggest-ever defeat in the Test format. The second and final Test will be played from February 6 in the same venue as the hosts aim to level the series.