'He's just so valuable to our team' - Pat Cummins lauds Nathan Lyon's versatility following latter's 100th consecutive Test

Australia captain Pat Cummins heaped praise on off-spinner Nathan Lyon ahead of the second Test of Ashes 2023 at Lord’s beginning on Wednesday, June 28. Lyon will be playing his 100^th consecutive Test at Lord’s, a feat unmatched by any other spinner in cricket history.

After making his debut in 2011 against Sri Lanka, the 35-year-old has played 121 Tests for Australia. Speaking ahead of the second Test, Cummins extolled his fellow teammate and said that his longevity is a testament to his exceptional fitness and form.

"It's a testament to not only how good Nath is in terms of longevity and fitness and form, but to be able to play 100 Tests means you're getting picked in all conditions," Australia skipper Pat Cummins was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au.

Further talking about Lyon, the Australian skipper said that he has managed to find a way into the playing XI even in unfavourable conditions such as the Gabba in Brisbane.

"I know at the start of his career, you'd talk about (possibly playing) four quicks at the Gabba but he's just so valuable to our team that I couldn't imagine a side without Nath in there,” he added.

Lyon boasts of 495 wickets in 121 matches in his Test career at an average of 30.99. The off-spinner is the third-highest wicket-taker in Australia’s history only behind legends Glenn McGrath (563) and Shane Warne (708). Furthermore, he was the leading wicket-taker in the World Test Championship cycle 2021-23 with 88 wickets to his name from 20 matches.

The New South Wales-born spinner was the pick of the bowlers for Australia in the first Test of Ashes 2023 as he picked eight wickets during the game and registered figures of 4/149 and 4/80 in two innings.

Lyon picked Kumar Sangakkara's wicket on the first ball of his Test career

Lyon started his career with a bang as he picked the wicket of the legendary Sri Lankan batter Kumar Sangakkara on his very first delivery in the format. He went on to pick a five-wicket haul in his debut innings (5/34) and helped Australia win the match by 125 runs.

The off-spinner has scalped 109 wickets in the Ashes so far and finds himself in the list of top 15 highest wicket-takers in the series history. Lyon will be eager to add more wickets to his tally and climb higher up in the list by bowling Australia to an Ashes series win in England after 22 years.