Lack of quality back-up spinners for Nathan Lyon a serious concern, feels Shane Warne
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The lack of a quality spinner to lend Nathan Lyon a hand has been a problem for the Aussies since a long time and has hampered their Test performance. Talking about it, legendary Australian spinner Shane Warne urged the Sheffield Shield teams to do their duty and groom spinners for the country.
The Australians at this point of time can somehow afford to lose Steven Smith or Pat Cummins but even the thought of losing Nathan Lyon can be a major headache for them. This speaks volumes about how important the off-spinner is for the team also highlights the lack of quality replacement for him.Â
This lack of another frontline spinner to lend a hand to spin has disturbed the legendary leggie Shane Warne and he has termed this as a “real issue” for the country.Â
The front runner in this department is Jon Holland, Victoria left-arm bowler, who failed to break into the Aussie squad this Ashes despite playing for Australia A. Queensland’s Mitch Swepson, who was the second-highest wicket-taking spinner in the Shield, is the next in line after Holland who was dropped from the Victoria side against West Australia.Â
"Luckily we have such a quality spinner in Lyon, he's done so well in all conditions around the world, held that attack together, but if something happened to him it would be a real issue," ESPN Cricinfo quoted Warne as saying so at Fox Cricket's season launch. "It's important for Australia - I'm not saying Lyon is retiring or anything, he's got a lot more in him - that if something does happen for Australia that someone could set up."
Although Lyon’s injury-less career until now has saved Cricket Australia from giving a thought about a backup, one never knows because an injury is just a training session or a fielding mishap away. Should something of that sort happen, skipper Tim Paine would then be left with nothing but Marnus Labuschagne’s leg-spin.Â
Only four spinners other than Lyon took more than 10 wickets in the Sheffield Shield last season: Tom Andrews (12), Steve O'Keefe (20), Swepson (24) and Holland (26). Warne urged the domestic teams to groom youngsters and field frontline spinner regardless of conditions for the benefit of Australian cricket.
"They should always pick a spinner, it's disappointing if sides are not picking spinners regardless of conditions we should be encouraging spinners in all forms because they'll learn how to bowl in different conditions. The job of Sheffield Shield sides is to make sure you are producing international cricketers, it's not just looking after your own state. You have to make sure Australian cricket is strong and they should be picking spinners."
