Lyon disappointed with ODI snub

Nathan Lyon is disappointed to have missed out on Australia’s ODI squad again, having been arguably their form bowler of the Ashes.

Lyon has played eight ODIs, including six in 2014.

The offspinner was overlooked for this year’s World Cup, while selectors preferred Ashton Agar when they settled on a 14-man squad for an upcoming five-match series against England.

“I was disappointed,” Lyon said in Northampton on Saturday.

“There’s no point hiding behind it, I want to be the No.1 spinner in all three formats.

“But Ashton’s been bowling well over in India and they’ve gone for a spinner that will spin it away from the right-handers.

“I’ll just have to work hard.”

Lyon is in career-best form with the red ball, having taken 12 wickets in the Ashes and regularly troubled the hosts despite Australia’s low totals.

The 27-year-old became Australia’s most prolific Test offspinner on the recent tour of the West Indies.

Chairman of selectors Rod Marsh suggested he didn’t want to risk Lyon’s Test form by him potentially “copping a hiding every now and then in one-day cricket”.

“I don’t want to go into that,” Lyon said.

“They’re obviously looking for a bit of variation (with offspinner Glenn Maxwell in the side).”

Lyon was dropped for Agar in the 2013 Ashes, when the teenager played the first two Tests.

He has since taken his game to another level, exercising fine control to dry up the runs but also launching enough weaponry to break partnerships.

“I’m probably a lot more consistent (compared to 2013),” he said.

“The ball is coming out really well … I’m confident and looking forward to the fifth Test.

“I’ve been working hard on trying to work batters out a lot faster.

“There’s always room for improvement and I’ll keep trying to get better and better each day.”

While Lyon’s stocks have skyrocketed in the Ashes, Fawad Ahmed’s have crashed.

The legspinner recorded figures of 0-48 from six overs against Northamptonshire on Saturday, extending a miserable tour.

“He’s probably down a bit on confidence now but he’s got the skill to be a world-class bowler,” Lyon said.

“He just needs to keep learning quickly and brush these bad days aside.”

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