Lyon was criticised in the leadup to the Gabba test for saying he hoped Australia could end careers during the Ashes series, including that of his former club team mate and England captain Joe Root. The plain spoken offspinner was more generous on Wednesday, saying Root's team were a "classy" side and that the Yorkshireman's bowlers would be favoured by the conditions in the first day-night Ashes test. "I think with the pink ball, it’s going to suit their bowlers," said Lyon. "We know they’re going to come back bigger and better and stronger. "It’s not going to be a walk in the park ... We need to make sure that we respect them.""We respect the English and we know they are going to come back bigger & better & stronger. The pink ball is going to suit their bowlers" @NathLyon421 looks ahead to Adelaide. #bbccricket #ashes pic.twitter.com/gacjMKLwhg
— Test Match Special (@bbctms) November 29, 2017
Born in rural New South Wales, Lyon was famously a groundsman at Adelaide Oval before being fast-tracked into the test team, so he knows the venue well. Drop-in wickets are now used at the ground since a major refurbishment from 2012-13 and the pitch for Saturday is likely to feature a layer of grass to slow the wear of the pink ball. Lyon, however, was relishing the prospect of more turn and bounce in Adelaide after extracting plenty from the surprisingly slow and spongy Gabba pitch. "Damian Hough in my book is probably one of the best curators in the world. So, I had a look briefly at it then. It looks pretty exciting," he said. "I've never seen a bad one here if I'm being brutally honest. It'll spin and bounce, (that's) always good."I sincerely hope you’re not part of a losing @CricketAus team on home soil @NathLyon421. I still remember being sat on the outfield at the SCG after winning 3-1 while your press&fans were tearing into the Oz players. You want to end careers? Just make sure its not yours that ends
— Matt Prior (@MattPrior13) November 21, 2017