Lyon expecting to 'cop it' in the UK

Off-spinner Nathan Lyon says Australia have no choice but to cop it sweet from the English crowds when the visitors are inevitably taunted about the ball-tampering incident in South Africa.

Lyon was on Tuesday selected as part of Australia’s 15-man squad for the Qantas Tour of the England, where the tourists will play five one-day internationals, starting on June 13 at The Oval.

The three-week tour, which concludes with a sole T20 at Edgbaston, will be Australia’s first international outing since the torrid South Africa Test series wrapped up last month, and Lyon expects to hear all about the controversy from English fans.

“I’ve never played in England where they (England’s supporters) haven’t given it to us,” Lyon said in Sydney.

“I’m expecting to cop a fair bit. It’s good fun, it’s banter, we’re going to cop it, so no point taking some tissues out with us.

“We’ve just got to stand out there and cop it and try and really make sure our performances are really making the big key movement forward. I really enjoy the challenge.”

The Australians copped plenty of attention from the South African crowds in the 3-1 loss to the Proteas, some which was deemed “disgraceful” by then head coach Darren Lehmann.

While those comments from Lehmann were directed at the spectators who targeted the wives and families of the Australians, fans at The Wanderers for the fourth Test hassled the tourists about the events in Cape Town.

Image Id: 021FC4334EC54CA38351DEBC42AA21CA Image Caption: Proteas fans at the fourth Test in Johannesburg // Getty

Lyon and his teammates can expect more of the same in England, where they will be without banned trio Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft.

Smith arrived back in Australia last week while Warner and Bancroft have explored playing in Darwin this winter as they serve out 12 and nine-month bans, respectively.

While the absences of the former captain and vice-captain creates a “massive hole” for the national team, Lyon said it provides their replacements the opportunity to step up at international level.

“I know Steve will be hoping that whoever takes his spot in the Test side will hopefully go out and score a lot of runs and make it difficult for him to come back in,” said Lyon.

“We all know they’re world-class players but as we know there is a great opportunity for the younger players to really come out and stand up and really put their name forward.”

Qantas tours of England and Zimbabwe

ODI squad: Tim Paine (c), Aaron Finch (vc), Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Shaun Marsh, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, D’Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Marcus Stoinis, Andrew Tye

T20 squad: Aaron Finch (c), Alex Carey (vc), Ashton Agar, Travis Head, Nic Maddinson, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, D’Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, Andrew Tye, Jack Wildermuth

Qantas Tour of England

June 7: Warm-up v Sussex, Hove (D/N)

June 9: Warm-up v Middlesex, Lord's

June 13: First ODI, The Oval (D/N)

June 16: Second ODI, Cardiff

June 19: Third ODI, Trent Bridge (D/N)

June 21: Fourth ODI, Durham (D/N)

June 24: Fifth ODI, Old Trafford

June 27: Only T20, Edgbaston (D/N)

Qantas T20I tri-series Tour of Zimbabwe

Sunday, July 1: Zimbabwe vs Pakistan

Monday, July 2: Pakistan vs Australia

Tuesday, July 3: Australia vs Zimbabwe

Wednesday, July 4: Zimbabwe vs Pakistan

Thursday, July 5: Pakistan vs Australia

Friday, July 6: Australia vs Zimbabwe

Sunday, July 8: Final