When Cult Hero Lyon Handed Over His Mantle To A Bondi Boy

Alison Mitchell, inspired by the emergence of a fans’ favourite in Sydney, looks back at others who won the crowd’s affection.

- Alison Mitchell

The recent Test series between Australia and Pakistan offered many moments and feats to savour. There was Pakistan getting to the brink of what would have been a record breaking run chase in Brisbane; Azhar Ali becoming the first Pakistan batsman to score a double hundred on Australian soil at the MCG; David Warner crashing a century before lunch on the opening day in Sydney; the great warrior Younis Khan completing his career CV with a first Test century in Australia; maiden hundreds for new kids Peter Handscomb and the ever-grinning Matt Renshaw; and 441 runs in the series for captain Steve Smith, who joined an elite club of players to have a Test average of more than 60 after playing 50 Tests.

Those were just the cricketing achievements. Looking back, this was also a series for the fans. Some of the most endearing and memorable moments came from a crowd and a public who engaged with Test cricket in a way that is only possible though the narratives that evolve over the course of a series.

It started in Brisbane with ‘The Garrys’, a Nathan Lyon fan club borne out of Matt Wade’s unmistakable calls of “niiice, Garry!” from behind the stumps every time Lyon bowled a ball (the nickname stems from Garry Lyon, a famous Australian footballer).

It ended, gloriously, with an unknown substitute fielder who appeared on the final afternoon at the SCG with a shock of long, curly blond locks billowing out from beneath his Baggy Green. Amidst a carnival atmosphere, this tall and gangly 22 year old instantly gained cult status with fans who had taken advantage of the $1 or $2 dollar charity entry to see Australia surge to victory on day five.