Australian spinner Nathan Lyon has revealed his desire to reunite with old Ashes rival James Anderson played a role in his decision to join English county Lancashire.
In modern cricket, securing the services of a top international player is a significant achievement, amid players’ commitment to their national teams and the lucrative contracts offered by various franchises around the world. Despite these difficulties, Lancashire managed to secure Lyon’s signing.
Despite the recent arrival of Lyon in England, it is possible that Lancashire can play soon-to-be holders of the First Division County Championship Surrey at Old Trafford from now on.
There are mixed opinions about Lyon’s potential talent, especially after a promising performance by rising Lancashire spinner Tom Hartley during England’s tour of India.
However, Lyon said his main reason for joining Lancashire was the opportunity to team up with England cricket legend James Anderson, who holds the record for most Test wickets among fast bowlers.
Lyon said he was in awe of Anderson’s extraordinary ability and his influence on developing cricketers around the world.
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The prospect of sharing the pitch and changing room with Anderson, who had been involved in a memorable battle with Lyon, filled him with anticipation and excitement. Lyon described the moment as “very specific” and was looking forward to the experience.
Lancashire has a rich history of hosting famous international cricketers like Wasim Akram, Engineer Farokh, and Clive Lloyd. Anderson, who has recovered from England’s recent defeat in India, and Lyon, who have 1,230 Test wickets together, could feature in the XI to play Lancashire together.
Reflecting on his shortened schedule with Lancashire, Lyons decided to manage Cricket Australia’s workload in a bid to extend his career. Although Lyon initially signed up for the England season in all formats, Cricket Australia limited him to seven first-class matches, citing workload management issues.
Lyon understands Cricket Australia’s reasoning behind the decision and, while he wants to be more involved, accepts it as a necessary measure to protect his longevity in the sport.
