"Thought Only Legends Present It...": When Nathan Lyon Broke Down Presenting Travis Head His Test Cap
Nathan Lyon (Courtesy: Twitter)

Nathan Lyon has represented Australia in 96 Tests. And has been a match-winner.

In 2015, Lyon went past Hugh Trumble to become Australia’s most successful off-spinner in the purest format of the game, thus earning the nickname ‘GOAT’. But the New South Wales spinner still chooses to remain humble.

So much so, that he broke down while presenting Travis Head the baggy green, thinking only ‘legends’ can have the honour to present a cap.

Why Travis Head wanted Nathan Lyon to present him the Test cap

Travis Head, Austyralia A
Travis Head (credits – Getty)

Wicket-keeper batsman Travis Head shares a camaraderie with his senior teammate Nathan Lyon on and off the field. Over the weekend, the duo often have a chat over beer.

In an episode of The Test, a documentary on Amazon Prime, which goes behind the scenes with the Australian cricket team, Head speaks about his conversation with Lyon before his Test debut.

Head said Lyon always encouraged him. And when the moment came that the duo can play together for the national team, Travis wanted to payback by asking Lyon to present him the Test cap.

“I’m real close with Nathan Lyon, and we were talking about it over a beer probably a week out from the first Test,” Head said.

“I said to him, ‘If I debut would you do it?’ and he sort of laughed it off, ‘Oh bulls—, you don’t want me’.

“I debuted with South Australia and he was there and he was like, ‘Make sure you pull your finger out so we can play together’.

“He’d always message me, ‘Keep going I want to play Test cricket with you, I want to make sure you’re there’.

“Once I did, it was fitting that he was able to present my cap to me.”

Thought only legends present it: Nathan Lyon

Nathan Lyon
Getty

There were multiple debutants for Australia in a Test match against Pakistan in 2018. Allan Border presented the cap to Aaron Finch. Michael Hussey did it for Marnus Labuschagne and Nathan Lyon for Travis Head — after the off-spinner said, he thought only legends do it, and broke down promptly while presenting the cap.

“I always thought legends do it. In my eyes, legends have always done it,” Lyon said.

“When Travis asked me to do it, that was probably one of the biggest defining moments in my career actually.

“I was just like, ‘Yeah I’ll be fine’, then once I got the baggy green, I was like, ‘Oh s—‘.

“I could hear his mum start to lose it a little bit, so that didn’t help me.”

Nathan Lyon breaks down in his Test cap presenting speech for Travis Head

"Thought Only Legends Present It...": When Nathan Lyon Broke Down Presenting Travis Head His Test Cap
Nathan Lyon in action. Source: Getty

It was an honour for Nathan Lyon. The scenes from the cap presentation ceremony reflects the real picture in the documentary on Amazon Prime. Never before has cricketer or an ex-servant of the game broke down while presenting the cap. But Lyon is different!

“I get the massive honour and privilege to present Trav with your baggy green,” Lyon said.

“I’ve looked at you as my little brother that I never had (starts crying).  F—, you’ve got me.

“One thing I will ask, when you wear this, always compete, no matter what. Stay humble, the way you are, also never forget the reason why you fell in love with the game.

“When you get this, you become more than just a guy who plays cricket. You’re part of the baggy green club. It makes me extremely proud to present you with No.454.”

Moments like this encourages a youngster like Travis Head. They understand the value of earning the baggy green much better than words can ever say.

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