Nathan Lyon tells England: Take me on if you’re good enough

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Tom Collomosse29 November 2017

Nathan Lyon warned England batsmen they will fall into his trap if they try to attack his bowling in Adelaide.

Lyon goaded England before the First Test in Brisbane, saying Australia would try to “end the careers” of some tourists — then backed it up with a skilful bowling performance that helped Australia claim a 10-wicket win to go 1-0 up in the Ashes series.

Lyon changed his plan today, complimenting the England team rather than rubbishing them, but he still warned them they would be taking a huge risk if they try to bat more assertively against him in the day-night Test here, which starts on Saturday.

Lyon finished with match figures of five for 145 at the Gabba, with many former England players frustrated that their successors had opted to play so defensively against him.

“If they did do that it definitely plays into my hands,” countered the Aussie off-spinner. “I like it when opposition guys try to attack me and try to whack me out of the attack. No doubt, England will come prepared and have a different plan for me to the First Test.

“I dare say they’ll change their game to me at some stage. There was a lot more positive intent shown to my bowling in the second innings at Brisbane. It provides a great challenge when guys come at you hard. Then you’re in with a chance of taking some wickets.

“I know how to bowl here in Australia. I know how to compete. That’s probably where my confidence is coming from. I am very happy with the way the ball is coming out of my hand.”

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Lyon knows the Adelaide Oval well, having had a spell on the ground staff there that coincided with England’s victory in the 2010-11 Ashes, when Kevin Pietersen made 227.

Meanwhile, Australia coach Darren Lehmann has ruled out ever imposing a curfew on his own players after England were ordered to be in their hotel rooms by midnight for the rest of the tour.

England director of cricket Andrew Strauss and head coach Trevor Bayliss took the step after Jonny Bairstow was found to have aimed a jocular “headbutt” at Australia opener Cameron Bancroft during a night out in Perth at the start of the tour.

Australia did not miss the chance to make Bairstow and England feel uncomfortable on and off the field, but Lehmann will not be following Strauss’s lead, regardless of how the series unfolds from here. He said: “We have faith in the blokes to do the right thing. They’re grown men, they’re adults. We wouldn’t have curfews.”

England were given today off but will resume training tomorrow, when Root and Bayliss will start to consider their XI for the Test.

Jake Ball was ineffective in Brisbane and Root and Bayliss must decide whether to stick with him or bring in a replacement, possibly Craig Overton. They will also assess the state of Moeen Ali’s spinning finger, which he split at the Gabba.

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