Lyon: I’ll hit my peak in a couple of years

Australia

Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon may not be part of the limited-overs squads these days, but hasn't given up hope of playing in all formats as he says he hasn't reached his 'peak' yet.

While Lyon is Australia's number one Test spinner, and their most successful offie, statistically, he has plenty more in the tank, and feels that at 28 he still has plenty of time to hit the pinnacle.

Lyon told Fairfax Media: "I don't think I've hit my peak, I'm starting at the bottom of the hill and looking to climb up.

"It might take me a couple of years to hit my peak but if I'm improving then I'm heading the right way.

"I'm training well, feeling fit, the ball's coming out of the hand really nicely, I can only keep getting better.

"My confidence is high at the moment and I want to keep improving. I want to keep learning the game."

With the recent glut of retirements from the Test side, Lyon is one of the senior men left, but feels that new skipper Steve Smith, and new wicketkeeper Peter Nevill, will be able to cope in place of Michael Clarke and Brad Haddin.

The spinner opined: "I can't see things changing too much. Steve's learned a lot off Michael and same with Pete with Brad.

"I'm quite close to Pete and hang out with him a fair bit. It's good to have a close keeper-spinner relationship. We do a lot of work together, it's handy to be good friends.

"On tour I'm forever knocking on his door and going into his room either talking life in general or cricket as well. It's good to see him take the gloves off Brad and he's hopefully going to have a long career."

One other change has been the vice captaincy, with David Warner named the permanent VC, and then Adam Voges given the job for the tour to Bangladesh in Warner's absence.

Lyon wasn't upset about being overlooked though, saying: "As a spin bowler I've got enough things to worry about on my plate, I'm happy to help out where I'm needed.

"I'm a big one in that you don't need a label to be a leader. I can lead from the front with my performances on and off the field."

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