Australia’s leading spinner Nathan Lyon has responded to England pacer Stuart Broad’s comments about having special plans to dismiss Steve Smith ahead of the Ashes.
In an interview with Sky Sports Radio, the off-spinner said that the Aussies would themselves be targeting the opposition skipper Joe Root.
“I know every team that comes over here targets the captain and I have no doubt, all our bowlers, we will be targeting Joe Root,” he said.
The 29-year-old said that Steve Smith was the best batsman in the world and would be ready for whatever England had in store for him.
I am not surprised that they are going to target Steve Smith. But Smith is the best batsman in the world in my book. He is more than happy to take on that pressure. He has been exceptional for us the last few years and I expect no difference from Steve (in the Ashes).”
Stuart Broad had earlier said that England would be targeting Steve Smith.
Talking about the hosts’ own plans for the English come the Ashes, Lyon said that they would look to exploit the visitors’ inexperience in the five Tests.
“We know England have a classy side, especially with Alastair Cook, Root, Stuart Broad and James Anderson. But there is some inexperience there so, hopefully, we can make them feel uncomfortable, put them under pressure and take 20 wickets. But anyone from one to 11, I don’t care. If they are English, I want to get them out,” the Aussie said.
The spinner was particularly delighted with pace spearhead Mitchell Starc’s recent exploits of claiming two hat-tricks in the same Sheffield Shield game and said that the entire bowling group had been buoyed by that display.
“Everyone calls him (Starc) The Mop now. He just cleans up the tail. That (Shield game) has really given us a lot of confidence, going into the Australian summer as a bowling group,” he remarked.