Nathan Lyon: Australia’s legendary spinner Nathan Lyon has made himself one of the best spinners in modern cricket by taking 530 wickets in 129 Test matches. But the beginning was not so easy for this New South Wales-born cricketer.
Lyon often faced comparisons with one of the greatest players of Australian cricket, Shane Warne, which put a lot of pressure on his career. Recently, Lyon spoke openly about this and told how difficult it was for him to adjust with these comparisons in the early days.
Nathan Lyon: Comparison with Shane Warne increased the pressure on Nathan Lyon
Nathan Lyon revealed that when his career was starting, the media and the Australian public were constantly looking for the next big spinner. During this time he was under tremendous pressure to perform like Shane Warne.
Lyon said on this- “I was struggling with this comparison in the early stages of my career because the media and the Australian public were repeatedly asking who would be the next spinner. But I could never be like Warne. Shane Warne was a legend in his own right, and my only attempt was to make my family and Warne proud.”
Nathan Lyon said that despite playing 129 Test matches and taking 530 wickets, he still feels as if he is in Shane Warne’s shadow. However, he said that now he is comfortable with this pressure. Lyon also told that it took him five to seven years to understand that pressure is a privilege and facing it is a sign of success in a way.
Lyon said, “I still feel in Shane Warne’s shadow, but now I am comfortable with it. If there is pressure on you, it means you are doing well, and now I enjoy it.”