Lyon on verge of spinning history

As Australia's most prolific off-spinner in more than a century, Nathan Lyon is comfortable enough in his own skin to not be weighed down by the expectations that come ahead of a Test match in which conditions are expected to suit his style of bowling.

While most of the focus in Dominica this week has been on a possible Test debut for leg-spinner Fawad Ahmed, Lyon has quietly been going about his business over the past fortnight.

He finished with the unflattering figures of 2-125 in Australia's warm-up match against a West Indies President's XI last week, but his final analysis failed to encapsulate just how many half-chances he created on a slow surface at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua.

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Lyon was unfazed by his return from last week in any case; he says it was far more important that he managed to bowl 40 overs and shake of the rust that had accumulated over an eight-week period away from the game.

The 27-year-old also enjoyed a long bowl on one of the centre practice wickets here at Windsor Park on Sunday, and the ground's reputation as a spin-bowling haven – and the expectations that come with bowling in such conditions – holds no demons for the man who last summer moved to within four wickets of overtaking Hugh Trumble as the most successful Australian offie in Test history.

"It's exciting. You’re playing Test match cricket for Australia in the Caribbean. It can’t get much better, I don’t think," Lyon said.

"So yeah, there's a lot of expectations. Expectation is only what you put on yourself.

"Everyone including myself knows our role in the team and it’s a team game.

"There’s a good bowling unit here and we work well together and we work hard together and that’s the best thing about it.

"We bowl in partnerships and we look to take 20 wickets and that’s the main thing."

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Australia's top tweakers prepping ahead of Wednesday's first Test // Getty Images

No doubt helping Lyon's relaxed approach to this match are his fond memories of Australia's last trip to 'the nature isle of the Caribbean' for the third and final Test against the West Indies in 2012.

Lyon took seven wickets in a 75-run win that secured a 2-0 series victory, while captain Michael Clarke took a five-wicket haul in the fourth innings as 26 of the 40 wickets to fall over the five days were taken by the slower bowlers.

And Australia's visit here three years ago is not the only reason the 12,000-seater ground that hugs the eastern flank of the capital Roseau has developed a reputation for taking turn.

In the most recent of the three Tests played here, between the Windies and Zimbabwe in 2013, Dominican tweaker Shane Shillingford finished with match figures of 10-93 as spin claimed 21 of the 28 wickets to fall in a comprehensive innings victory for the home side.

And in a domestic first-class game played here just two months ago, Veerasammy Permaul and Devendra Bishoo – the two spinners in the West Indies 14-man squad for this match – took 18 wickets between them as spinners picked up all but five of the wickets to fall in the match.

The Australians had their first look on Sunday at the 22 yards of turf – ominously cornered off by yellow and black tape warning 'caution' – that is likely to weigh heavily on the minds of selectors when it comes to finalising the XI.

Still three days out from a ball being bowled, the pitch had a distinct tinge of green and ground staff were divided about just how much turn the surface will take over the course of five days.

Lyon offered little about the possible make-up of the XI and the state of the wicket, saying he could only go on his positive impressions from his time here three years ago.

And he said the prospect of sharing spin duties with Ahmed (Lyon has been the sole frontline spinner in 36 of his 39 Tests) has had no impact on his approach to the match.

"I’ve got no idea (about selection). I just come here and train," Lyon said. "I’ve got my role in the team and I know what that is.

"No matter what the conditions throw up, I’ll try to do my role in the best possible way.

"I’ll talk to Michael Clarke when it comes closer and we can get a better read on the wicket and see where we go."