'I can go over there and learn and understand how the English guys go about it' - Nathan Lyon on upcoming County stint and Ashes 2027 target

Nathan Lyon said that he will be looking to understand the English conditions better during his seven-match County Championship stint with Lancashire. The legendary off-spinner has his eyes firmly set on the Ashes 2027 in England.

The 36-year-old arrived in Manchester earlier this week ahead of Lancashire's first match of the season against Surrey, which gets underway on Friday, April 5. Lyon will be available for seven out of the club's first nine matches in the Championship.

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Lyon is returning to the County circuit after seven years as his first appearance came in 2017 for Worcestershire. Australia have no red-ball cricket to play till November 2024. This window has presented Lyon with the chance to gain valuable knowledge of the English conditions from his Ashes rivals.

"I've got basically no cricket until October when the (Sheffield) Shield season starts back with NSW and then the first Test match is in November in Perth," Lyon told the Willow Talk podcast before departing for the UK. "I looked at this opportunity to take the family over there and experience living in the UK for a little bit, but also to try and improve my skillset a little bit as well," Lyon said as quoted by cricket.com.au.

"There is another Ashes Test series away from home still on the radar, and trying to win that is one of my goals, so I can go over there and learn and understand how the English guys go about it. Playing in their set-up is going to be really unique for me to see what a county game plan is. And I'm more than happy to pass on my knowledge (to) also help a couple of spinners over there if they want help," the veteran added.

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A calf injury brought his Ashes 2023 campaign in England to an abrupt end after the second Test. The New South Wales cricketer vowed he wants to "win Test series in India and England" in 2027.

Lyon, who went past 500 wickets in the Australian summer, is currently the seventh-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket with 530 scalps. In his first County stint, Lyon bagged only six wickets in four matches at an average of 67. However, his overall record in English conditions is quite impressive for a spinner as he has 59 wickets from 16 Tests at an average of 29. His association with Lancashire would allow the fans to see a rare sight as the iconic James Anderson would be bowling in tandem with him in at least some of the matches.