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‘He needs to develop something else’ – Warne says Lyon lacks variation

by Wisden Staff 2 minute read

Shane Warne believes off-spinner Nathan Lyon doesn’t currently have enough variation in his bowling to succeed in ODI cricket.

Leg-spinner Adam Zampa replaced Lyon in Australia’s line-up ahead of the third and final ODI, which India won in the last over of the game on Friday.

Nathan Lyon took six wickets during day four of the first Ashes Test in 2017

Consistency in line and length in Test cricket has led to the 31-year-old being considered one of the world’s best twirlers in the longer format, but he has struggled to replicate that success in limited overs cricket.

Whilst commentating for Fox Cricket, Warne said that Lyon needed to expand his offering if he is to be considered a frontline spinner in ODIs.

“I think he needs to develop something else,” said Warne, who won the 1999 World Cup with Australia. “The key in Test match cricket is being patient and bowling ball after ball after ball.

Shane Warne believes Nathan Lyon must add more variation if he is to succeed in ODIs

“You can’t do that in white-ball cricket. You have got to bowl different balls all the time. And Nathan has really only got an off-spinner and a faster off-spinner.

“He just needs to develop a faster one or a top spinner or something that goes the other way (doosra) to be successful in this form of the game.”

India’s last-over win at the MCG today gave India a 2-1 series victory. Next up, Australia face Sri Lanka in two Tests – the first of which starts at the Gabba on January 24 – before five ODIs and two T20Is.

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