Australia bowler Nathan Lyon says he is “extremely hungry” to rejoin the team for the third Ashes Test after being surprisingly left out for their victory at Brisbane.
Lyon did not attempt to hide his fury at the Gabba after being dropped for a home Test for the first time in 13 years, describing his mood at the time as “absolutely filthy”.
With a recall all-but certain in Adelaide, Australia’s third-highest Test wicket-taker of all time spoke of his desire to have an impact on the series, having also barely been involved in the first Test in Perth.
“It was pretty disappointing personally for me last week,” he told a press conference on Monday. “I was pretty well set on helping out the team in any way I could — I felt like I did that pretty good.
“I’m extremely (hungry to get back out there). Every game there’s a Test match on I want to be a part of. There was a lot of disappointment. I’ve bowled two overs the whole series. I haven’t had an opportunity to get into the series yet.”
Nathan Lyon undertakes 12th man duties in Brisbane (Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
Lyon, 38, currently stands on 562 Test wickets, just one behind Glenn McGrath 563 on Australia’s all-time list. Above that pair sits only the great Shane Warne on 708.
Lyon, who used to work on the ground staff at Adelaide Oval, said: “Yeah, I dare say it would potentially be like a little fairytale I guess, when you look at it with my history of working here, the dream of playing Test cricket.
“Viewing my first ever Test was on the roller here back in 2010 against England. For me to potentially overtake Glenn McGrath would be pretty incredible.”
Lyon is likely to gain assistance from the Adelaide pitch. Curator Damian Hough spoke to the media on Monday and suggested it will not be a batting paradise.
“Spin needs to play a part here, it always has,” Hough said. “I don’t want to be the curator at Adelaide where you don’t pick a spinner.”
Temperatures are due to soar in Adelaide as the Test begins, with a forecast of 34C for the opening day on Wednesday and then as high as 38C on day two.
Hough said the forecast may mean he leaves a little more moisture in the pitch. “We’re not wanting a green seamer out there, but we’re needing to be mindful of our moisture levels,” he added. “We’ve got our ideal moisture levels going into day one, it might be an extra one or two per cent.
“The players shouldn’t notice it really, but it’s just adding a little bit there because we don’t know what the weather will do with the pitch. It could be fine, it might really dry it out and it might turn big, or it might end up flattening out also.”