Victory away from home would make Ashes triumph sweeter, says Nathan Lyon
Nathan Lyon has said that, for any Australian kid aspiring to be a cricketer, the biggest dream to follow after playing for Australia, is to win the Ashes. Although Australia last won the Ashes on English soil almost two decades ago, Lyon is confident of completing a clean sweep this time.
Australia’s good World Cup campaign was put to an end by the eventual title winners, and arch-rivals England, in the semi-final stage. So, for any Aussie fan or player, the Ashes is the chance to pay the English back in full. Lyon, who was a part of the semi-final loss, said that he is desperate to win the Ashes away from home.
"It's like a dream. As a kid you always dream of firstly playing cricket for Australia but then winning the Ashes. Winning the Ashes is always (up) there but winning it away makes it more special," Lyon said on the latest episode of The Unplayable Podcast, reported CricketNext.
Lyon, who has played eight Tests in England, has been part of only two wins, with four defeats and two draws to show. He is well aware of Australia’s poor showing in the UK for nearly two decades. The last time Australia won the Ashes in England was all the way back in 2001 when Steve Waugh led them to a convincing 4-1 series win.
However, it is the image of the legendary Shane Warne celebrating the Ashes series win in 1997 in Trent Bridge that has registered deeply within Lyon. It’s a fantasy that he hopes to be able to live in less than two months. And he's been practicing just in case it comes to fruition.
"The big memory for me is seeing Shane Warne with the stump. That's the biggest thing. I'm desperate to replicate that. I reckon it would be brilliant. If we win the Ashes I'll do it. I've been practicing, don't worry about that. Like Steve Smith batting in his room, I've got a stump up there," Lyon said.
Australia have not been in the best of forms in the longer format, and the hosts are high on confidence. But the 31-year-old is keen on making the win a clean sweep, just like they did at home in 2013-14 season.
"I've never gone into a series, whether it's a three-(match) series or a four-game series and thought I was going to lose one. So I'm coming over here to win five Test matches," Lyon added.
