Australia Insider: Nathan Lyon impressed by ‘cool’ build-up turn after Shane Warne’s death

The 36-year-old insists there is no optical result, ruling out the possibility of taking part in events such as his 40th birthday and the 2027 Ashes line in England.

Lyon said he had not thought about what legacy would be left for the time spinners at the end of his career, or who might in future replace him in the Test team. But he admitted he had felt an lingering responsibility to promote the art since Warne’s passing in 2022, with the leg-spinner later reviving the art in the 1990s and inspiring a bowlers’ week.

“I see the responsibility of flying the flag for spinners across the country, there is nothing to hide behind that,” Lyon said. “Especially with Warnie’s passing, I feel like I have an important role in making sure the effects stay fresh.

“I’m not really cool by any means, but when I target and advertise spin bowling and advertise how great it is to be a spin bowler… it looks cool.”

Lyon currently ranks third among all Australian bowlers with 530 career wickets, 33 short of Glenn McGrath’s final tally of 563.

The spinner’s longevity has been key to Australia’s success in recent years, with Lyon playing 100 consecutive Tests before suffering a calf injury in last year’s Ashes. But Lyon said it was his father who helped him realize the responsibility he had in promoting misrepresentation after Warne’s death.

“Just having that conversation and finding out that we’re presenting models in so many different ways to so many other audiences around the world,” he said. “And if we do our little bit to confidently create high-level cricketers or audiences, we will be doing our job.”

“What it can offer in the future for unused South Wales and Australia will be nothing short of magnificent,” Lyon said. “I’m a big fan of the way he’s doing it, he’s a great leg-spinner, he’s very confident in his preparation ability. He’s committing to being a famous person in the sport. I aim and help him recover, and He’s helping me recover too.”

Lyon, who took eight wickets in Guards’ first match, showed he would play one more match, against Queensland in Sydney, before the Indian Republic line-up starting on November 22 in Perth.