Lyon eyes World Cup after surprise call-up

One month after being told he had little hope of playing on the Qantas Tour of England, Nathan Lyon now has a golden chance to secure a spot in Australia’s 2019 World Cup squad.

Lyon was today named in Australia’s 15-man squad for the five-match one-day international series against England starting next month in what looms as a dress rehearsal for next year’s World Cup, to be staged in the UK in 13 months’ time. 

The 30-year-old off-spinner was a surprise selection given he hadn’t played an ODI since August 2016 in Sri Lanka, as well as the conversation he had with national selector Trevor Hohns on the final days of the chaotic South Africa Test tour. 

Lyon has barely picked up a ball since returning to Australia a month ago, so it appears the appointment of new head coach Justin Langer has played a significant part in the off-spinner’s recall to the 50-over side.

"Four weeks ago, I had a meeting with ‘Cracker’ (Hohns) in Jo’burg and he didn’t rate my chances very highly," Lyon said today outside the Sydney Cricket Ground. 

"But to get a phone call from Trevor Hohns last night while I was cooking dinner was a good surprise."

Lyon and Western Australian left-arm orthodox Ashton Agar are the two specialist spinners in the squad, and the veteran hopes to use the series as a stepping stone towards selection in the World Cup next year. 

"It’s well documented I that I want to play in all three formats for Australia, that’s my goal and has been my goal for a very long time," he said. 

"To get this opportunity and be included in the squad and to head over to England where the World Cup is being played, that’s going to be a massive advantage. 

"Hopefully, if I get the opportunity to go out there I perform really well."

Hohns said in a statement today that a factor in Lyon’s selection was the potential presence of a number of left-handed batsmen in England’s top order.

Lyon ate up England’s left-handers in the Ashes this past summer, with 18 of his 21 English wickets southpaws in the 4-0 series drubbing. 

While England’s one-day line-up is significantly different to the one that he faced during the Ashes, Lyon hopes he can have the same effect against the hosts’ lefties in the 50-over format.

"My biggest thing is going out and bowling my best ball and I believe if I bowl my best ball consistently enough, hopefully I can do some damage or limit some runs in one-day cricket," he said.

"Obviously, I’ve got to be a lot smarter and probably think a lot quicker on your feet in the shorter formats than what you do in Test matches but it provides a great opportunity. 

"They’ve got some world-class players with (Captain Eoin) Morgan and (Ben) Stokes, (Jos) Buttler, (Joe) Root and these guys, so it’s going to be an unbelievable challenge for the Australian cricket side but it’s an interesting one."

Lyon is Australia’s most experienced active Test cricketer but in terms of ODIs, he’s played only 13 since making his 50-over debut in 2012.

But with Steve Smith and David Warner unavailable due to suspension and Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins ruled out with injury, Lyon is ready to stand up as a leader under Langer and new ODI captain Tim Paine. 

"A massive area for a few of us to stand up in is in leadership roles," Lyon said.

"Missing ‘Starcy’ and ‘Cummo’, it’s massive for us but it provides a massive opportunity for Jhye (Richardson), Kane (Richardson), Billy Stanlake, Andrew Tye to really step up. 

"I know Josh (Hazlewood) is a world-class bowler, but it’s a really good opportunity for Josh and myself to really stand up as leaders in amongst the bowlers.

"It’s a great opportunity in a new era and it’s an awesome opportunity to move forward as a group."

Aaron Finch was named as Paine’s deputy in the one-day side, while the Victorian will be the captain of the T20 unit, with South Australia’s Alex Carey to act as his vice-captain.

No vice-captain has been named for the Test team following the fallout of the Cape Town ball-tampering incident that saw Paine elevated and installed as Test captain. 

But when asked if he’d like to be vice-captain in the five-day format, Lyon said he doesn’t need an official title to be a leader in the group. 

"It’s not on my radar," he said. "I’m a big one for believing you don’t need a label to be a leader. But if the opportunity came there I wouldn’t say no to it if I could help Tim Paine out. 

"But I’m pretty sure I’ll be able to help Tim Paine out without having the ‘VC’ badge on my shoulder. 

"I’m pretty comfortable where I’m sitting in the Test side. 

"Obviously, I’m the most experienced one there (with) the most games played. If I can provide some of the assistance to Tim over the next 12 months it’s going to be massive help to him."

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