Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Reuters
Reuters
Sport

Taunts from Manchester crowd just 'white noise' for Australia's Lyon

Cricket - Ashes 2019 - Fourth Test - England v Australia - Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - September 8, 2019 Australia's Nathan Lyon during the match Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff

(Reuters) - The Manchester crowd did everything to remind Nathan Lyon of his fumbled run-out in the dying moments of England's frenetic Ashes test win at Headingley but for the Australian off-spinner it was just "white noise" after the first couple of overs.

Lyon missed an easy run-out chance to dismiss England number 11 batsman Jack Leach as the hosts completed a famous one-wicket win in the third test to level the series at 1-1.

The off-spinner was taunted during the fourth test in Manchester by the vociferous home crowd, who ironically cheered him every time he came on to bowl.

Cricket - Ashes 2019 - Fourth Test - England v Australia - Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - September 8, 2019 General view of Australia's Nathan Lyon reacting after bowling to England's Jack Leach Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine

Lyon said he enjoyed the "good banter".

"To be honest with you, you hear it for the first over or two then it just becomes white noise," he told reporters on Sunday after Australia retained the Ashes by beating England at Old Trafford to take a 2-1 lead in the series.

"When you're a professional sportsman, your job is to come out and bowl well, and compete against whoever you're playing. I didn't really feel it or hear it at the back end (of the match), so it doesn't worry me.

"We're sitting up there and we're going to have a couple of beers tonight and celebrate because the urn is coming home. I'm not sure what the 9,000 people in that stand are doing tonight."

Lyon had Headingley hero Ben Stokes plumb lbw after the missed run-out chance but Australia had used up their reviews to challenge the umpire's not out verdict.

The 31-year-old laid on the ground as England completed their win and appeared inconsolable before captain Tim Paine literally picked him up off the turf.

Lyon said he was devastated.

"I wear my heart on my sleeve, and playing cricket for Australia means everything for me," said Lyon, who bowled on in Manchester despite suffering an injury to his bowling hand during England's first innings.

"It's not about personal success, but I've had some family issues over the past – my uncle's quite sick – so you realise quite quickly it's just a game. It does impact a lot of people, but mistakes happen.

"I didn't mean to drop the run-out or anything like that, but I had him plumb (lbw) next ball. That's just the game of cricket, you've got to pick yourself up and it's just the way you bounce back."

(Reporting by Sudipto Ganguly in Mumbai; editing by Ed Osmond)

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.