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Lyon not giving up on ODI ambition

Test off-spinner desperate to use Matador Cup as springboard to higher limited-overs honours

Nathan Lyon remains firm on his dream to represent Australia in the limited-overs formats, and the Matador One-Day Cup shapes as another chance for the off-spinner to show selectors what they’re missing.

Australia’s most successful Test off-spinner, Lyon has worn the Baggy Green 46 times and taken 162 wickets at 34.09 in the process.

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In the past 12 months, the 27-year-old has been among his country’s best performers in the five-day game, but after being trialled briefly last year in the United Arab Emirates against Pakistan with an eye to the World Cup, he hasn’t been seen in ODI cricket.

To date, his ODI record reads: eight matches, 11 wickets at 30.

With Glenn Maxwell performing brilliantly with the bat and offering his handy off-breaks, coach Darren Lehmann and his fellow selectors have been inclined to go heavy on the allrounders in the lower order, with Mitchell Marsh and James Faulkner also featuring heavily in a formula that has proven successful for the Australians in recent times.

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"I'm wondering why I don't get picked, too," Lyon told Fairfax. "I definitely haven't given up and I haven't retired from one-day cricket, that's for sure.

"I want to play all three formats of cricket for Australia, that's my goal, so I have to keep putting my hand up for selection and doing what I can to achieve that.

"It's out of my hands, it's up to the selectors and I know all I can do is control my performance and my work ethic."

Lyon was touring with Australia during last year’s Matador Cup so didn’t turn out for New South Wales, but this time around the Blues will be blessed with spin talent, with Steve O’Keefe also likely to play a key role through the tournament.

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NSW haven’t won the 50-over domestic tournament since 2005-06 but have been installed favourites to win this year’s edition, which will be based at four suburban grounds in Sydney suburbs Hurstville, Blacktown, Drummoyne and North Sydney.

The Blues were big winners from the postponement of the Bangladesh tour, with Lyon and O’Keefe, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc and Peter Nevill all returning to the state side.