Nathan Lyon: Missed the adrenaline rush of Test cricket
The Australia off-spinner says the forced break due to the COVID-19 pandemic had rekindled his desire to cross the threshold of 500 Test wickets.
Published : Nov 19, 2020 18:37 IST
Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon has said he missed the adrenaline rush of Test cricket while he was away from the game due to the COVID-19 pandemic and that the break had rekindled his desire to cross the threshold of 500 wickets in the format.
Lyon has captured 390 wickets so far in his Test career, the most by any Australian off-spinner.
“I still feel I’m getting better and still feel like I’ve got a lot of cricket to offer Cricket Australia,” Lyon, who turns 33 on Friday, was quoted as saying by FoxSports .
“Definitely 500 and beyond is on my radar.”
Lyon will become just the 10th player in Australian history to reach 100 Tests, in the fourth and final match against India in Brisbane early next year.
'Missing that adrenaline'
The veteran spinner last played a Test in January this year before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down cricket across the globe. He says the break had made him hungrier to perform.
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“Probably it’s driven my love for the game,” Lyon said.
“Without being able to play the game that you love so much and not being able to play that regularly that’s driven my passion to get out there and that hunger to perform well again. The most I’ve missed is that pressure that comes along with playing Test cricket. Missing that adrenaline.”
Lyon has snapped nine wickets in three games for New South Wales this season.
India’s tour begins on November 27 with three ODIs and as many T20Is before the four-Test series begins in Adelaide on December 17.