Australia’s veteran spinner Nathan Lyon has denied speculations over his immediate retirement from Test cricket. Lyon, who has been Australia’s designated song master ever since Mike Hussey retired from Test cricket, passed on the role to wicketkeeper Alex Carey during their recent victory against West Indies in Barbados. It led to speculations that Lyon could announce his retirement any time soon.
But Lyon said he before he hangs up his boots, he would like to be part of an Australian team that wins a Test series in India. “I’ve always said I want to win away in India. I want to win away in England,” Lyon said. “We’ve got that opportunity in a couple of years’ time, but we’ve also got to take it Test by Test and make sure that we’re doing everything here in West Indies right. Then we’ve got a massive summer at home with the Ashes. But another World Test Championship final would be on my cards for sure.”
The 37-year-old off-spinner during the Test in Barbados had scribbled a note to Carey stating he would be the new song master of “Under the southern cross”. It is a role that is seen prestigious in Australian set up with the likes of Allan Border, Ian Healy, Ricky Ponting, Justin Langer and Hussey being the previous ones to occupy the role after Rod Marsh started it.
“There’s no talk about me retiring or even thoughts coming in my head,” Lyon told reporters. “It’s more about the team environment, making sure that I get the opportunity to pass it onto someone who I look at and absolutely love and the way he goes about it on and off the field. And I feel like Alex is the perfect candidate. I feel like I’ve run my race with it, and it’s time for someone else to put their touch on,” Lyon said ahead of the second Test in Grenada.
The role involves leading the team in a rendition of the song ‘Under the Southern Cross I Stand,’ which famously finishes with the line, ‘Australia, you f**king beauty!’ The Australian teams have a habit of singing the song at the end of every Test win.
Lyon, will turn 38 by the time the Ashes commences later this year in Australia.
