Nathan Lyon tipped to bounce back after being hit for 34 off one over in Prime Minister's XI match
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England T20 opener David Willey has exacted a small measure of revenge on Ashes tormentor Nathan Lyon, taking the offspinner for 34 runs off one over in the Prime Minister's XI match.
Lyon dominated English batsmen in the longer form of the game this summer, but Willey turned the tables at Manuka Oval yesterday, hitting the first five balls of the 30-year-old's second over across the rope.
Much to the disappointment of the Manuka Oval crowd, the final ball was sliced through the covers for four, denying them a chance to witness the rare feat of six sixes being hit off one over.
Lyon, who was captaining the PM's XI, did not return to the attack after the offending over.
Willey, who was promoted to open the batting, delivered a sublime pinch-hitting display, top scoring with 79 off 36 balls as the visitors cruised to an eight-wicket victory with 44 balls to spare.
But the thrashing will do nothing to shake Lyon's determination to represent Australia in all three formats, according to teammate Peter Handscomb, who donned the baggy green alongside Lyon in the Ashes series.
Handscomb brushed off any suggestion it would damage the star offspinner's confidence as he tries to prove to selectors he can perform at the highest level in limited-overs cricket.
"I wouldn't be too worried about bouncing back. He's the greatest (Australian) offspinner of all time so he's doing just fine," Handscomb said.
"He's not going to be worried about one over."
The man behind the demolition job was also effusive about Lyon, insisting the carnage was part and parcel of Twenty20 cricket.
"Sometimes you bowl well and go the distance, and other times you can bowl pretty poorly and pick up wickets. That's just the nature of Twenty20 cricket," Willey said.
"There's no doubt he's an unbelievable bowler, his record and success shows that."
Lyon has been continually snubbed by selectors despite being touted as an answer to Australia's struggles in limited-overs cricket.
ABC/AAP
