Lyon prepared to be 'punching bag'

If, as expected, the pace attacks of Australia and South Africa engage in a bouncer battle in the upcoming four-Test series, the unlucky individual who could be caught in the crossfire is Nathan Lyon.

Lyon was watching on as an innocent bystander during the Magellan Ashes as Australia’s fearsome pace trio of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood hammered England’s batting line-up from one to 11 with hostile short-pitched bowling.

In the Ashes Australia had a significant pace advantage over England and no fear of retaliation, but that’s not the case in South Africa against a Proteas side overflowing with speed.

And that could spell bad news for Lyon, Australia’s chief spinner who bowls no bouncers, bumpers or perfume balls but will likely cop all those and more either down the order or perhaps as nightwatchman, a role he’s held for the past six years.

"I think I’m going to be used as a punching bag again," Lyon said in Durban on Tuesday. "I think that job is mine.

"It’s a challenging job, obviously coming up against some of the best fast bowlers in the world.

"But at the end of the day you’ve got to challenge yourself against the best players in the world and what a place to do it."

If there was any doubt whether Australia’s pace brigade would continue bouncing the lower order like they did to England, captain Steve Smith made it clear.

"I think they’ll go down a similar path," Smith said when he arrived in Johannesburg.

"I think there could be some good short-pitched bowling throughout the series, to batters, to the tail, everyone from both sides.

"I don’t think a great deal changes there."

Lyon has had the best seat in the house watching Australia’s quicks preparing for the first Test, that starts on Thursday in Durban, and has liked what he’s seen from the speedsters.

"I’m glad I was bowling and not facing them,” Lyon said. “They’re firing.

"Mitch (Starc) is firing, Josh (Hazlewood) is doing what he usually does – doesn’t leave that spot – and Patty (Cummins) looks like he’s bowling fast as well.

"We’ve got a great feeling in our bowling unit here coming off a great summer back home.

"We’ve got a lot of confidence in taking 20 wickets in each and every Test."

Qantas tour of South Africa

South Africa squad: Faf du Plessis (c), Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock, Theunis de Bruyn, AB de Villiers, Dean Elgar, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Morne Morkel, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada.

Australia squad: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Cameron Bancroft, Pat Cummins, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Jon Holland, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Tim Paine, Jhye Richardson, Chadd Sayers, Mitchell Starc.

Warm-up match: Australia beat South Africa A by five wickets. Report, highlights

First Test Kingsmead, Durban, March 1-5. Live coverage

Second Test St George's Park, Port Elizabeth, March 9-13. Live coverage

Third Test Newlands, Cape Town, March 22-26. Live coverage

Fourth Test Wanderers, Johannesburg, March 30-April 3. Live coverage