Nathan Lyon not surprised by form of Steve Smith after Australia captain leads fightback
Friday 24 November 2017 14:35, UK
Nathan Lyon insists he is not surprised by Steve Smith's form after his 22nd Test fifty helped Australia recover from 76-4 to end day two of the first Ashes Test on 165-4.
Australia, who dismissed England for 302 before lunch, were struggling with Cameron Bancroft (5), David Warner (26), Usman Khawaja (11) and Peter Handscomb (14) back in the pavilion.
But the Australia captain stood firm, hitting an unbeaten 64 in an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 89 with Shaun Marsh (44no) to leave the game firmly in the balance going into day three.
"I'm not amazed - he's the No 1 batter in the world," Lyon, who finished with figures of 2-78 in England's first innings. "He trains hard, his work ethic is incredible and he knows his game better than anyone else. His process works for him.
"I thought the hour after tea was probably one of the hardest Smith and Marsh have had in a long time, against quality bowlers, on a difficult wicket in the first Ashes Test, so credit to them.
"You definitely have confidence in your own players to go out there put on a good partnership. There are obviously a lot nerves in an Ashes Test but there is confidence regarding each and every one of those players."
James Anderson, who captured the wicket of Handscomb just after tea, echoed Lyon's thoughts regarding Smith.
"He's an outstanding player," said Anderson. "He moves around so much you have to take him out of the equation and concentrate solely on where you want the ball to pitch."
The snag at the Gabba is the sluggish surface - which has left bowlers and captain having to think on their feet.
"This pitch is not what we were expecting, so plans have to be tinkered with - and more catchers in front of the wicket," added Anderson.
"We have plans for individuals - but we need plans for this wicket."
Meanwhile, Lyon caused a stir before the start of the series with a string of claims about ending English careers this winter and having watched Mitchell Johnson scare the Ashes tourists on their last trip four years ago.
But the off-spinner hinted at his latest press conference that his remarks were merely a ploy to distract the focus away from Australia's debutant opener Cameron Bancroft and returning wicketkeeper Tim Paine.
"I took a lot of pressure off Tim Paine and Cameron Bancroft, I thought you guys were a little bit smarter than that but it is what it is," he told reporters during the end-of-day press conference.
"At the end of the day it's a team game, I know my role in the Australian cricket team, I know that I am a leader, I know I am one of the most experienced guys in that change room.
"So if I can go out there and share my experience with the younger guys then hopefully we can put Australian cricket in a good place."
