Nathan Lyon keeps mum on mystery ball
While legspin great Shane Warne used to enjoy suggesting he had a new mystery ball and even giving it a name, Nathan Lyon says Pakistan will just have to wait and see.
But Lyon says there could be more than two mystery balls, especially if Australia pick uncapped left-armer Steve O’Keefe to partner Lyon.
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Offspinner Lyon says he has been working with the Australia team’s spin consultant and Test world-record holder Muttiah Muralitharan on a few things, but that’s all hush hush ahead of Wednesday’s first Test in Dubai.
“If I tell you that then Pakistani know that,” Lyon told reporters on Friday night after claiming 2-49 in Pakistan A’s second-innings tally of 3-306 off their allotted 90 overs.
Australia need 339 to win on Saturday’s final day in the four-day game.
Reading Nathan Lyon is keeping his new mystery ball a secret for the summer. Hopefully it’s a ball that actually spins #couldntturnadoorknob
— Liam Reaby (@LReabs_18) October 18, 2014
Nathan Lyon is now Australia’s most important player. Ridicule if you must, but I am right on this one. — Dennis Does Cricket (@DennisCricket_) October 17, 2014
Lyon says Sri Lankan spin wizard Murali, whose 15-day stint ended on Friday, was a brilliant addition to the team.
“He has worked with me, Steve O’Keefe, Steve Smith and Glenn Maxwell,” Lyon said.
“He is a lovely guy and he works with what you’ve got.
“That is the best part about Murali. He doesn’t judge or anything like that.
“He’s straight down the line. He will tell you what his thoughts are and we can easily sit down and have a debate.”
Lyon says any new material in his act will be kept up his sleeve until Wednesday.
“That’s a surprise. You just have to wait and see next week,” the 33-Test veteran said.
“We have been working with few different things so it’s not just a couple of balls.
“There is more than two. Both O’Keefe and I have both been working with Murali on few different thinks and few tricks.
“We have to just put them out there in the play and see how we go.”
Lyon already has a mystery ball developed in 2012 which has been named “Jeff” and turns away from the right-hander.