Graeme Swann trying to 'get under Australian skin' - Nathan Lyon

Australian spinner Nathan Lyon has shrugged off the public criticism of his bowling capabilities by Graeme Swann.

Swann, who took 255 Test wickets for England before his sudden retirement during the 5-0 Ashes defeat in Australia in 2013/14, said of Lyon: “Australia have good seam bowling, aggressive batting and their spinner, although he takes wickets, is probably their weakest link.

"I’m not saying Nathan Lyon is a weak link, but he’s probably their weakest. I used to love it when teams didn’t attack me, because then you just bowl all day.”

Come Cardiff we are going to be all-guns blazing. We are feeling really confident

But prior to travelling to Canterbury for the tourists’ four-day match against Kent which starts on Thursday, Lyon played down Swann’s comments, and cited ex-skipper Michael Vaughan’s remarks that the off-spinner could be the leading wicket-taker in the Ashes series.

"That is Graeme Swann just just trying to get under Australian skin," said Lyon, who was the last player to get Swann out in a Test match. "I have played 41 Tests and have always been referred to as the weakest link so it doesn't really faze me.

“As I keep saying we have got a great bowling unit and if we are taking 20 wickets then we are flying so that is the main thing.

"One guy is writing me off and the other is giving me a compliment. That's very nice from Michael Vaughan but there is a lot of cricket to play. If I end up being lead wicket taker I will be quite happy as long as we take that trophy home."

Earlier this month, Lyon surpassed Hugh Trumble's 111-year-old record of 141 Test wickets by an Australian off-spinner during the Baggy Greens' tour of West Indies.

He heads into the opening Test of the Ashes series on July 8 in form and with 146 scalps under his belt.

In contrast, his England counterpart Moeen Ali has struggled for form since returning from a side strain injury but is likely to be the hosts' first-choice spinner for the Ashes opener in Wales despite calls for Adil Rashid to be blooded against the Australians.

"I don't really care to be honest," said a typically brazen Lyon when asked about England's spin options.

"Moeen Ali is a good cricketer but we are playing international cricket so we'll respect everyone who comes out there. There is not going to be an easy role for anyone out there and it is going to be a good challenge for each and every one of us.

"We are preparing well, we are training hard and that is all we can ask. Come Cardiff we are going to be all-guns blazing. We are feeling really confident, we are excited and the chance to take the Ashes home after a 14-year drought is really massive so it is really exciting."

The first Ashes Test is live from Cardiff on our dedicated Sky Sports Ashes channel from Wednesday July 8