When Michael Hussey retired all those years ago in January 2013, Australia went looking for its new songmaster the man who would rouse the players with a rendition of the team's victory song, Under the Southern Cross I Stand, and they eventually settled on Nathan Lyon. Not because he was the best singer but simply because few others wore their hearts on their sleeve in quite the same way.
Lyon was different and that's not just because he was an off-spinner. Australia has had a great tradition of ASL spinners from Clarrie Grimmet, the first bowler to claim 200 Test wickets, to Richie Benaud, a man everyone recognises as the voice of cricket but a great leader and spinner in his time, and finally, the great Shane Warne. They were all wrist-spinners. Not finger spinners.
But Lyon, well, he always wanted to do it his own way and if it meant getting up in the cold, wintery mornings in Canberra to do his part-time job or work on the farm then so be it. The 37-year-old has now played 130 Tests and claimed a remarkable 532 wickets.
Quaint town
Young is a small town roughly a two-hour, 160km drive from Canberra, and to most people outside the cricketing world, it is known for its cherry crops. From November to January, you can pick your own cherries from trees. Surrounded by orchards, olive groves and vineyards in the cool climate of the Hilltops wine region - this is quaint as quaint goes. Go back a little further in time and the town's colourful, pioneering gold history comes into picture.
But come back to the cricketing world and the town will forever be associated with Lyon, a bowler who has charted a very unconventional route to bring his legend to life. Even now, more than anything else, it is his resilience that sets him apart. Put him in a tough spot and he'll go about his business without a word.
Bu hikaye Hindustan Times dergisinin December 01, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Hindustan Times dergisinin December 01, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
'I WAS TOLD MY BROTHER...NIKHIL WAS COMMERCIAL SUICIDE'
Actor Sanjay Suri on playing an HIV-positive character and the impact it still has, despite receiving no support from the film industry
Divyenndu 'keen' on doing horror, wants to play a vampire
Actor Divyenndu, who was last seen on the big screen with the comedy film Madgaon Express, has said he would \"love to play a vampire\" in a horror film.
World AIDS Day: A guide to understanding HIV and AIDS
While general awareness around HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) and AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) has significantly improved over the years, the two conditions are still often confused for each other.
Kashmera doing fine after mishap, says husband Krushna
Fans of actor Kashmera Shah (51), who recently met with a freak accident at a mall in the US while away from her family, can finally heave a sigh of relief. Her husband, actor-comedian Krushna Abhishek (41), says that Shah is doing fine.
Samantha Prabhu's father Joseph passes away
Actor Samantha Ruth Prabhu recently took to social media to share the news of her father Joseph Prabhu's death on her Instagram Story, captioned, \"Until we meet again.\"
'I WANT TO CHALLENGE MYTHS AROUND SOCIAL CONDITIONING'
Actor Shweta Tripathi's iconic character in the Mirzapur web series, Gajgamini aka Golu, was a hit with the audience. And as the series is set to be adapted into a film, fans are thrilled about getting to experience it on the big screen.
'I do not think about the industry's acceptance'
It's been quite an eventful year for actor Sunny Kaushal, whose portrayal of a grey-shade character in Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba has earned him plaudits.
'I FELT LIKE MY 2 LOWER BODY WAS DETACHED'
Actor Rakul Preet Singh, who suffered a back injury in October, reveals how it was a particularly challenging incident in her life
'I still don't know if I was a mean mum'
Dr Madhu Akhouri Chopra, mum of actor Priyanka Chopra Jonas, recently revealed that she regretted sending her daughter to a boarding school at the age of seven.
Kluivert's penalty hat-trick makes history, Brentford thrash Leicester
Justin Kluivert scored the first ever Premier League hat-trick of penalties as Bournemouth won 4-2 at Wolves on Saturday and Kevin Schade also scored three in Brentford's 4-1 victory over Leicester.
