Nathan Lyon Hungry To Go 5-0 Up With An Eye On WTC Final

Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon believes there is no such game as a dead rubber when it comes to playing for Australia. He wants to give his best to the team and has that burning desire of going 5-0 up in the ongoing Ashes series.

Australia have already regained the Urn by leading the series 3-0 with two games to play. But Nathan Lyon is certain that with World Test Championship points up for grabs, there will be no complacency in the Australian ranks.

“I’ve never ever considered (a match) dead-rubber when you wear the baggy green and go out and represent Australia in a Test match, So there’s no dead-rubbers. Firstly because it’s (the) Test championship, but another one, we want to go five-nil up,” Lyon told reporters ahead of the fourth Test.

“Obviously Ashes for me is the pinnacle, but I’d love to be part of the Test championship final, whether that’s at Lord’s or wherever it may be in the world… A lot of work to do to get there,” he added.

Nathan Lyon talks about putting Joe Root under pressure

Joe Root is arguably the best batsman in the world in Tests at the moment and had a fantastic 2021, having scored 1708 runs. He hasn’t got a Test century in Australia, but Nathan Lyon doesn’t want to go easy on him as he has already scored three half-centuries and has looked good at the crease.

“He has not scored a century but he’s got off to some decent starts and he’s made some decent scores. Our job is to try and restrict and try and remove each and every batter that comes out there… and I think we’ve been doing a really good job in that at the moment,” Nathan Lyon stated.

“I don’t want to rest on our heels or anything like that. We want to get better… and try and put Joe under a lot more pressure when he first comes to the crease so he doesn’t get a start,” he concluded.

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