Nathan Lyon to Lead Prime Minister XI Against England
A day after national selector Mark Waugh insisted that Nathan Lyon is very much in the frame for a recall in the One-Day International team, the off-spinner has been appointed the captain of Prime Minister’s XI to face England in the annual fixture at Canberra’s Manuka Oval next month.
The game, which will be held on February 2, will be a warm-up for the forthcoming T20 tri-series between Australia, New Zealand and England in addition to continuing the Test spin spearhead’s push to get a recall in the limited-overs side. Before the game between Prime Minister XI and England, Hong Kong will take on an ACT XI in another T20 fixture.
One of Australia’s most important players in Test cricket, Lyon had played a big role in the recent 4-0 Ashes triumph by taking 21 wickets at an average of 29.23. The off-spinner continued his red-hot form in the ongoing Big Bash League too, picking up six wickets in three games for the Sydney Sixers while conceding less than five runs per over.
Impressed with Lyon’s consistent performances, Mark Waugh, on Friday (January 19), had lavished praise on the spinner and had insisted that he was very much in contention for a recall in the limited-overs side.
“It doesn’t matter what form of the game he’s bowling in at the moment. He’s gone to another level,” Waugh told Sky Sports radio.
“His confidence has flown through to his white-ball cricket. He’s definitely pushing for selection in all three formats.At the moment Adam Zampa is in the one-day squad, and he’s done a good job when he’s been in there.
“Nathan Lyon’s one-day form a few years ago wasn’t as good as what it could possibly be now. He’s definitely in the frame; we’re not discounting him. He’s just bowling too well to ignore, but at the moment you can only fit 11 players in the (team),” he had added.
Lyon had enjoyed a pretty good outing for the Sixers over the last five seasons, picking up 31 wickets at 15.87 with an economy rate of 6.75. However, it has not guaranteed him a regular spot in Australia’s limited-overs side, as he has played only 13 ODIs and a solitary T20I so far since his debut in 2012. Australia has currently given the responsibility of the spin-bowling department to young leg-spinner Adam Zampa.
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