Wastemen etc

[OverratedSanity]

He's perfectly all right but not a patch on the Herath-Ashwin-Yasir trio. Needs the rest of the bowling attack to be excellent to do his job and he's barely ever led his attack in the way a spinner should on a turning track. Seems to plug away and consistently get 2/62 by bowling nice and tight, which is undoubtedly useful for the attack he bowls in, but when the opportunity presents itself for him to take the lead and take a bagful of wickets, he hasn't done it anywhere near often enough. Notable exception is vs us at Adelaide.

He's still pretty good though and deserves respect.

 

[Daemon]

He's a downhill skier. When have you ever though "we need a wicket, let's get Lyon on"? If you have you're unqualified to comment on cricket and should leave CW.

When his team is getting pumped he rarely does well. If it wasn't for the support of his gun fast bowlers around him he'd be milked for even more runs.

 

[Burgey]

The thing about Lyon is you know he's honest. Honest in that he doesn't chuck and honest in that you know he's always bowling the best he can and trying to take wickets or win the game. You can't say that with confidence about many of his spinning cohorts around the world.

 

[Daemon]

There's only two offies in world cricket atm who bowl in short sleeves with nothing to hide, and Lyon isn't one of them

 

[Burgey]

Lyon is well aware of the dangers of melanoma. That's why he quite sensibly wears long sleeves.

 

[TheJediBrah]

I think PEWS made the interesting point that when you consider wickets that don't turn a lot, an offspinner who focuses on overspin (like Lyon) vs one who focuses on sidespin (like O Keefe) is likely to be more effective vs Test quality batsmen, since handling things like drift, dip and bounce are trickier than handling sideways movement.

I thought there was some merit to this, but modern batsmen even at Test level seem to commit themselves to hitting through the line a lot more than they used to, which would mean you'd be better off with a side-spinner even if the conditions don't have sharp turn.

I remember that, but while I appreciated the effort and intent, didn't buy it at all.

 

[Daemon]

Lyon is well aware of the dangers of melanoma. That's why he quite sensibly wears long sleeves.

His large head blocks out most sunlight from reaching other parts of his body tbh

 

[Burgey]

That's actually a very good point, and his large brain explains his vast intelligence.

 

[Daemon]

Things Lyon is good at:

Honesty
Trying hard
Large brain
Singing the Australian team song

Things Lyon is not very good at:

Spin bowling
The Jeff

 

[Red]

Things Lyon is not very good at:

Spin bowling

I dunno whether this conversation is worth pursuing or whether it's just descended into bullshit, but for mine Lyon sits on par with some good offspinners throughout history, including Lance Gibbs, Erapalli Prasanna and Ashley Mallett. A rung below the elite in Murali and Laker, but still very valuable contributors nonetheless.

 

[Red]

He's a downhill skier. When have you ever though "we need a wicket, let's get Lyon on"? If you have you're unqualified to comment on cricket and should leave CW.

I don't think he's a downhill skier so to speak, but I have noticed that once he's picked up one or two wickets, his bowling goes up a notch. Thrives on his own confidence. It's probably one thing he could improve on.

 

[indiaholic]

No idea why people don't rate him. Is pretty much perfect for Australian conditions. Have serious doubts whether SOK is any better.

 

[stephen]

I don't think he's a downhill skier so to speak, but I have noticed that once he's picked up one or two wickets, his bowling goes up a notch. Thrives on his own confidence. It's probably one thing he could improve on.

I'd agree with this. Truth be told he's still young and realistically cam improve on that area of his game as he gets older. Certainty of his place in the team would help him immensely. He's had a very rough time over the years with being dropped.

 

[vcs]

Australia's attack in 2013-14 Ashes was basically a perfectly functioning 4-man attack. He fit in well there, bowled England out in the 2nd innings at Melbourne for a chaseable score IIRC.

 

[Red]

he in the team.

YEs

 

[marc71178]

I've never got the Lyon hate myself. Always comes across as a good solid and reliable bowler. For me he's clearly the best spin bowler from any non-Asian nation.

 

[Shady Slim]

captained poorly by smith whose spin MO is seeming to generally be "use them to contain not to take wickets"
like look what happens when he's used to take wickets and not contain a la last night

 

[Starfighter]

Lyon's economy would be improved if Smith would just bring square leg up. Don't know how many easy singles have been let slip through there.

 

[Bijed]

captained poorly by smith whose spin MO is seeming to generally be "use them to contain not to take wickets"
like look what happens when he's used to rake wickets and not contain a la last night

Yeah, it's like because Lyon generally doesn't turn the ball square, and maybe because he's an offie, he doesn't 'tick the boxes', so to speak, in Smith's mind to be considered an attacking option

 

[91Jmay]

Smith is a terrible captain of spin. Uses Lyon awfully. His use of Zampa in the T20s was jaw droppingly bad.