The Pakistanis have selected an ‘A’ team without a single spinner to deny the Australians a chance to get their games going against the likes of Yasir Shah and Shadab Khan. But on the first day of the tour game, it was over to Lyon to fire a warning to Sarfraz Ahmed & Co.

He came on to bowl in the sixth over after Mitchell Starc and Michael Neser had started out, and bowled 36 overs for returns of 5-87. Jon Holland, the other frontline spinner, wheeled away for 24 overs to pick up one wicket. Pakistan A finished the first day of the four-day game on 247-6.

Younis Khan was particularly severe on Lyon, sweeping him with abandon as he aggregated 468 runs with three centuries.

“I had a good chat to Younis Khan after that series actually and he said, ‘The only reason I sweep is because I don’t trust my defence and I’m sweeping your best ball’,” recalled Lyon.

“Usually when you’re getting swept, the best ball that you bowl is getting swept. I find it a little bit of a weird compliment that you’re bowling quite well but you keep getting swept. It can be annoying. It’s a challenge. I want to keep challenging myself to get better and better and if guys want to sweep, I know I am a different bowler from four years ago. I’m a lot more confident than I was four years ago.”