Mike Hussey expects Nathan Lyon to pip Shane Warne

Aussie off-spinner Nathan Lyon has been scaling great heights recently. He ripped apart the Bangladesh batting lineup as he ended up picking 22 wickets throughout the series. While Lyon hates to be associated with the tag, ‘greatest of all time’, Australian legend Michael Hussey expects nothing less of him.

Hussey has recently challenged him to topple Australia‘s leading wicket-taker Shane Warne. As crazy it may sound since Lyon isn’t even halfway of Warne’s tally of 708 wickets, Mr Cricket expects him to seize the moment. In case you didn’t know, the Australian cricket team has three esteemed positions in the captain, vice-captain and the one that leads the victory song, ‘Under the Southen Cross I Stand.’ Hussey was the man that passed the duties on to Lyon following his retirement in 2013.

Hussey on mentoring Lyon

The left-hander mentored the off-spinner during his early days in the Australian team. “If he was given half a chance he would have a great career”. He also revealed his advice to Lyon when he retired, “My last message to him was you’ve just got to catch Warney now.”

While Mike admitted that’s going to be tough, he counted upon Lyon to accomplish it. “He’s number two for Australian spinners, now it’s time to catch Warney. You never know, it might be a bit of a tough ask but if he keeps playing and keeps performing well, there’s no reason why he can’t keep performing for quite a few years to come. I think he’s just coming into his prime now.”

On criticism for Lyon

While there were statements like ‘Lyon proving his critics wrong’, all over the news, Hussey feels that Lyon didn’t have to prove anything as he already knew what the spinner was capable of. He admitted that though the 29-year-old has had his share of downs, he is Australia’s best bet to win the upcoming Ashes and his record is a clear proof of the same.

“It’s a difficult one for the spinners, for anyone to follow Shane Warne,” Hussey added. “You’re just expecting miracles all the time because that’s pretty much what Warney did for Australia for over a decade. The stereotype is the spinner is just going to come on and rip through the opposition and win the Test match for Australia on the last day.”

He further mentioned that the expectations were too much. “That’s what everyone expected after Warney, but unfortunately the game is a lot harder than that. We had Warne and McGrath there for over a decade and they’re two of the greatest players to have ever played.”