Nathan Lyon embraces 'old school' tactics with Lancashire ahead of Border-Gavaskar Trophy

Nathan Lyon used 'old school' tactics against rival batters during his recent stint with Lancashire in England, which he believes was the perfect preparation for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against India.

In his eight-match first-class tenure with Lancashire, Lyon emerged as the leading wicket-taker, securing 26 wickets at an average of 30.38. He bowled 308 overs, second only to Essex’s Simon Harmer in the county competition's top division.

Lyon appreciated the challenge of bowling in England's cold and damp conditions. He also enjoyed not knowing much about the county batters he faced, allowing him to develop strategies during the game rather than relying heavily on pre-game research.

"That was one thing I really enjoyed, going into games and not knowing too much about guys I was playing against. Then it was up to me to use a few old-fashioned skills I guess, to try and work out ways of bowling to them pretty much the old-fashioned way, on the go. It's not something we get to do much in Test cricket, and I found that a really enjoyable challenge," Lyon said.

Reflecting on India's last tour of Australia in 2020-21, where the visitors won 2-1 despite fielding many inexperienced players, Lyon emphasized the importance of adapting to unfamiliar opponents. This experience with Lancashire has further honed his skills, making him better prepared for the upcoming Test series.

With 530 Test wickets to his name, Lyon is now focused on fitness during the eight-week lead-up to the Australian summer. He plans to play at least three Sheffield Shield games for New South Wales to fine-tune his game before the India series begins on November 22 in Perth.

"I think the GPS (athlete tracking data) showed I've actually bowled more balls over that eight-weeks with Lancashire than I ever have over the same period in my career, so they certainly got their money's worth. But it's been good to focus on all parts of the game, not just bowling but making sure my recovery's been good and also staying on top of my strength and running work. I've really enjoyed it and I think it's probably the best version of a pre-season if I'm being honest, just allowing me to keep improving, keep learning and keep bowling," he further added.

One highlight of Lyon’s stint with Lancashire was playing alongside Ashes rival James Anderson. He enjoyed the experience but found it a bit surreal to cheer for Anderson, who recently retired from Test cricket.

"Jimmy was pretty cool, and it was great to spend some time with him close up after so many years playing against him for Australia. I thoroughly enjoyed his company, and fielding at mid-off while he was bowling and talking to him mid-over and mid-spell was a cool experience,' he concluded.