Mark Waugh: “He’s definitely pushing for selection in all three formats”
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National selector Mark Waugh has admitted that spinner Nathan Lyon is bowling “too well to ignore”.
Lyon has only represented Australia in Test cricket as of late, despite announcing his desire to play limited overs cricket time and time again.
Given that he has been overlooked on numerous occasions, Lyon has taken it upon himself to capture the selectors’ attention with a string of strong performances in the Big Bash League (BBL).
Lyon, who represents the Sydney Sixers, became available for the BBL after a highly successful Ashes campaign, which saw him finish with 21 wickets at an average of 29.23.
Thus far, Lyon has featured in three BBL matches and taken six wickets at a brilliant average of 9.83 and a stunning economy rate of 4.91.
However, while Waugh continued to show his support for spinner Adam Zampa, he conceded that the selectors cannot ignore Lyon if he continues his superb run of form.
“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 as quoted by cricket.com.au. “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).
“It’s a very good squad and Zampa’s record is good. (Lyon’s exclusion) is probably more that there’s not enough room, but he’s definitely on the radar.”
However, it’s not just Lyon who is vying for a spot in the limited overs squads as all-rounder Glenn Maxwell is also knocking on the door.
Maxwell was dropped for the ongoing ODI series against England in favour of big-hitting batsman Chris Lynn. However, after Lynn was ruled out of the series with a calf injury, Maxwell was overlooked as the selectors opted to choose veteran batsman Cameron White.
Speaking about the competition for spots in the team, Waugh said: “It’s like all players in the squad, there’s pressure on a lot of spots and that’s just one of them. Everyone has spoken about Glenn Maxwell not being in the squad, now it’s Nathan Lyon.
“We’ve got a lot of competition there, a lot of quality. Now we’ve just got to win some games, our one day form hasn’t been good as we’d hoped for in the last 12 months.
“The more players putting pressure on the players in the squad, the better for Australian cricket.”