Australia's star spinner Nathan Lyon played down Ollie Robinson's statement about Australia having three no. 11 batters in their team after his country's win in the first of the five Ashes Tests in Edgbaston last week. The English pacer made this comment after Australia were bowled out for 386 in the first innings of the Ashes opener.
England took the last four wickets for just 14 runs on Day 3 of the first Ashes Test after peppering the Australian batters with short-pitched deliveries. Speaking about this tactic, Robinson said that the Australian lower-order had made minimal contributions in the first innings and this was something they discussed as a group.
The England pacer even went so far as to say that England felt like Australia had three No. 11s. However, Lyon and Pat Cummins demonstrated composure and resilience when they were faced with a similar situation in the second innings, guiding Australia to a thrilling 2-wicket win in the Ashes opener.
Lyon responded to these statements with a hilarious comment. While admitting that he was a No. 11 batter, but that Josh Hazlewood, the Australian fast bowler, did not allow him to bat there. "To be honest with you, I am a no.11. It's just that Josh won't let me bat no.11. That's all a bit of banter and I've got absolutely no dramas with that," Lyon was quoted as saying by Daily Mail.
Lyon scored an important 16 runs from 28 balls in Australia's run chase of 281 on the final day of the first Test. He stitched a Pat Cummins put on an unbroken 55-run partnership for the ninth wicket, helping Australia to a two-wicket victory. The Australian pair were untroubled by the English pacers, even after they took the second new ball late in the game.
Milestone for Nathan Lyon
The veteran is close to creating history by becoming the first bowler to play 100 consecutive Test matches for Australia. He will achieve this milestone when he takes the field at Lord's in the second Ashes Test. Only five other players in history have played 100 Tests in a row for their national teams.
"It'll be extremely special. 100 consecutive Test matches for anyone is a special feat. I hate talking about myself, but that's one record I'm extremely proud of. Especially being a bowler and no.11 batter, you can get that feat done and tick off 100 consecutive games. That's something that I'll be extremely proud of when it happens and more importantly, when my career is done," Lyon added.
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