“I have played 41 Tests and have always been referred to as the weakest link so it doesn’t really faze me”
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Australia spinner Nathan Lyon has dismissed Graeme Swann’s comments about him being the weakest link in the Baggy Greens’ Test squad.
Swann, who retired midway through the last Ashes series in 2013-14, had said: “Australia have good seam bowling, aggressive batting and their spinner, although he takes wickets, is probably their weakest link.
“I’m not saying Nathan Lyon is a weak link, but he’s probably their weakest. I used to love it when teams didn’t attack me, because then you just bowl all day.”
However, Lyon was quick to lash out at Swann, stating that former England off-spinner is simply trying to take a cheap shot at him and the entire Australian team.
“That is Graeme Swann just trying to get under Australian skin,” Lyon said. “I have played 41 Tests and have always been referred to as the weakest link so it doesn’t really faze me.
“As I keep saying we have got a great bowling unit and if we are taking 20 wickets then we are flying so that is the main thing.
“One guy is writing me off and the other is giving me a compliment. That’s very nice from Michael Vaughan but there is a lot of cricket to play. If I end up being lead wicket taker I will be quite happy as long as we take that trophy home.”
Lyon, who recently broke Hugh Trumble’s 111-year-old record of 141 wickets to become Australia’s most successful off-spinner, was also in no mood to talk about England’s spin department.
“I don’t really care to be honest,” he said. “Moeen Ali is a good cricketer but we are playing international cricket so we’ll respect everyone who comes out there. There is not going to be an easy role for anyone out there and it is going to be a good challenge for each and every one of us.
“We are preparing well, we are training hard and that is all we can ask. Come Cardiff we are going to be all-guns blazing. We are feeling really confident, we are excited and the chance to take the Ashes home after a 14-year drought is really massive so it is really exciting.”