Lyon wary of South Africa's batters ahead of WTC25 Final

By Jonathan Healy, in London

Australia spinner Nathan Lyon is wary of the threat South Africa's potent batting line-up possesses ahead of the ICC World Test Championship Final at Lord's.

The reigning World Test Championship winners head into the Ultimate Test that commences on June 11 as the favourites to defend the mace they won against India in 2013, but Lyon is well aware of the talent that the Proteas have at their disposal and does not want his side to underestimate them.

Lyon said while the experience of playing in the last World Test Championship Final will help Australia at Lord's, he knows anything is possible in a one-off Test.

"Having the experience of the guys who have won three (50-over) World Cups and T20 World Cups and obviously the World Test Championship final a couple of years ago, that experience and that pressure in those higher games, it's going to be, it's on our side isn't it but it doesn't mean anything when you come to the game," Lyon said at Australia training in Beckenham on Thursday.

"South Africa have got some world class batters and obviously they've got some unbelievable bowlers there as well so it's going to be a good challenge and obviously it's a one-off Test match.

“It's going to be different challenge and with foreign conditions and the Dukes ball.

“It's going to be two best bowling attacks going at each other which is another exciting thing so it's going to be a good challenge for all batters."

South Africa opener Ryan Rickelton heads into the London contest on the back of a superb innings of 259 in his most recent red-ball encounter, while skipper Temba Bavuma and experienced right-hander David Bedingham both scored in excess of 600 runs during the World Test Championship cycle that saw the Proteas finish at the top of the standings.

Lyon has also played against South African greats in the ilk of AB de Villiers and Jacques Kallis and knows the quality of players available for selection in the country.

"I'm a cricket nuffie, so I've watched a fair amount of cricket and even tuned into their (South Africa's tour) game at the moment against Zimbabwe," Lyon said.

"They've got some class players as I said with the likes of Aiden Markram, Rickelton at the top of the order there, they're class players, there's no point in hiding behind that fact either.

“I played against Bedingham last year here in county ricket and he's a special player, so at the end of the day it's going to be guys who do the basics…and enjoy the pressure moments."

And while Lyon hasn't played a competitive match since he featured in Australia most recent Test success in Sri Lanka at the start of February, the veteran off-spinner said he was fit as ever and primed to perform well in the eagerly awaited contest.

"I had a little break after Sri Lanka to try and get my hip right and now that's all good to go," Lyon said.

"I honestly haven't stopped training since the end of Sri Lanka and bowling wise I've been probably going for a good five to six weeks now.

“My numbers and where I'm at workload and all that stuff is where we want it and skill wise and (how the ball is) coming out of my hand is exactly the way I want at the moment."