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Belief beats numbers for hungry Lyon

Off-spinner's poor return in tour match par for the course ahead of Test series

Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon is completely unfazed by the punishment he received from the local batsman during the three-day tour match in Colombo.

Simply because it's nothing new.

Lyon's four most recent international tour matches – since the start of the West Indies Test tour in May last year – have produced eight wickets at an average of 63 while going at an economy rate of 4.5 runs per over.

Quick Single: Smith's side makes desired statement

Which compares particularly unfavourably with his career Test average of 32.87 and economy rate of 3.14.

As well as Lyon's proven record in the Test arena, the other factor that will ensure very few doubts linger when it comes to Australia's No.1 spinner is how he went on to become arguably Australia's most reliable bowler in last year's disappointing Ashes campaign after copping the brutal figures of 1-200 in his only pre-series contest.

If anyone is concerned about Lyon's form leading into the first Test next Tuesday, it's certainly not him.

"I know you look at the scoreboard and you see no wickets but I was really happy with the way they came out," Lyon said after he actually collected two wickets in the tourists' victory by an innings and 162 runs.

"I was creating chances.

"In these tour games, a lot of the batsmen seem to go out with no fear because there's no consequences for those guys.

"But come the Test match it's a different story, so I'm really happy with the way they came out and I can only look forward to the next three Test matches."

O'Keefe takes 10, Aussies rout Board XI

It appears increasingly likely that Lyon will be joined by fellow New South Wales spinner Steve O'Keefe for the series opener in Kandy.

O'Keefe claimed 10 wickets for the match, as well as an unbeaten 78, to stake his claim for a third Test appearance alongside Lyon.

"It's going to be a big challenge for Steve O'Keefe and myself," Lyon said. "But that's where we thrive – under pressure."

Lyon returns to Sri Lanka for the first time since his memorable maiden Test appearance back in 2011.

Quick Single: O'Keefe 10 leads Aussie rout

Much has changed in the five years since, with Lyon returning to the island nation as the team's most experienced Test player.

"I'm turning up as the most capped player so it's a little bit different," Lyon said. "Looking back at 2011 I was obviously pretty excited and pretty nervous, but as a player I've grown both on the field and off the field and I'm certainly a lot more confident than what I was back then.

"I'm confident in my skills to get the job done."

Lyon needs just five more scalps to his name to become just the 16th Australian to claim 200 wickets in Test cricket.