Off-spinner Nathan Lyon has urged the Australia side to ‘enjoy their cricket’ when they embark on their upcoming limited-overs tour of India.
Australia are slated to play two T20s and five ODIs against the Indian in the run up to the 2019 ICC World Cup in England and Lyon believes the squad has the ability to compete against the best in overseas conditions.
Following their clashes against India, Australia will also take on Pakistan in a five-match ODI series in the UAE before departing to England for the World Cup.
“We get a great opportunity to play a lot of white-ball cricket before the World Cup so I think if we can go out and enjoy ourselves, make sure our preparation is right, then we can compete against the best in their conditions as well,” Lyon was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo.
“It will be a great challenge for us (against India), there’s no point shying away from that. It’s a great opportunity for a young side,” the spinner added.
The Aussies were recently beaten 1-2 by the Indians in the ODI series held in their own backyard and they will have their cut out once again against the No2 ranked team.
Lyon is hoping to seal a place in Australia’s World Cup squad.
Lyon, meanwhile, is enjoying a revival of his limited-overs career after being seen as a Test specialist for a long time. The off-spinner was part of the squad which went down to India and is keen to cement a place in the ODI squad before the World Cup gets underway in England.
Lyon will turn out for Sydney Sixers on Sunday in their Big Bash League (BBL) clash against the Melbourne Stars before flying out to India for the limited-overs clashes.
“Hopefully my World Cup campaign, my selection, will start on Sunday. I just need to keep putting in good performances with the ball and making sure I can play my role, whichever side I’m playing in whether that’s the Sixers or Australia,” Lyon stated.
“I know my role in the Australian set-up with captain Aaron Finch, we just have to keep working on it and ensuring we are playing an exciting brand of cricket. There’s a massive couple of goals just around the corner for the Australian side.”
The limited-overs clashes between India and Australia will get underway on February 23 with the first T20 which will be held at Visakhapatnam.
