In 129 Test matches, Nathan Lyon has taken 530 wickets at an average of 30.28 while playing for Australia. While he is considered as one of the top spinners in modern cricket, the New South Wales-born player didn’t have an easy beginning. The late great Shane Warne, who is seen as one of the finest players to represent the sport, was often used as a comparison for him.
In a recent interview, Lyon discussed his comparisons to Warne and that it was hard for him to cope with the pressure. He claimed that the 36-year-old was constantly in the spotlight because the Australian people and media were constantly looking for the next great spinner. Since Warne is a once-in-a-generation talent and always aimed to make his family and the former leg-spinner proud of him in his formative years, Lyon pointed out that it is impossible to replicate Warne.
“You would be trying your hardest every game, so I probably struggled with it early on,” Lyon said to Sky Cricket. “But I feel like the Australian public and media were asking who’s the next spinner, we need a spinner to do what Shane Warne did on the last day.”
“Even after ten matches in my first-class career, I will never be able to achieve what Warnie accomplished.” All I want to do is go out there and compete, he continued, and make my family and Shane Warne proud. Warnie is a once-in-a-generation talent, in my opinion, and the best player to have ever played the game.
I still to feel in Shane Warne’s shadow: Nathan Lyon
Even after more than ten years of representing Australia, Lyon still feels under Warne’s shadow. Speaking about the same subject, the spinner said that he is now at ease with it and that it took him a long time to realize that the pressure he faces is a privilege when compared to someone like Warne, who has 708 Test wickets under his belt.
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“I am 129 Test matches in and have taken 530 wickets, but I still feel like I am in Shane Warne’s shadow. The problem is, I’m content and at ease with that right now. Many of us experienced Shane Warne’s shadow pressure, and it probably took me five, six, or seven years to realize that pressure is a luxury. Additionally, Lyon advised enjoying pressured situations. “You’re OK, you’re doing OK,” he said.
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