‘Pressure Is a Privilege’: Nathan Lyon Discusses the Pressure of Upholding Shane Warne’s Legacy

Nathan Lyon has held up Australia's charge in terms of spin bowling and has been an immaculate wicket-taker. The Australian spinner has been a stalwart and the ideal person to lead Australia's legacy in spin bowling. Lyon has done his best to maintain prestige and has made the Aussies a major threat to others. For Lyon, it wasn't always easy as he had to live up to expectations of the legendary spinner, Shane Warne. The spin bowler recently opened up on living up to the pressure and expectations of the fans and all the Shane Warne comparisons.

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Nathan Lyon Discusses the Pressure After the Shane Warne Comparisons

During an appearance on Sky Cricket, Nathan Lyon opened up on the pressure he dealt with in the earlier days of his career. The bowler was touted as the replacement of Shane Warne, and he opened up on the difficulties of standing up to the quality of the legendary bowler who was termed the 'King of Spin'. Carrying his legacy forward was a task meant to be done with great regard, and Lyon stood up to expectations with his brilliance and fighting spirit.

"I probably struggled with it early doors because you would be trying your hardest every game, but I feel like the media and the Australian public were asking, 'who's the next spinner? We need a spinner to do what Shane Warne did on the last day. And I'm 10 matches into my first-class career. I'm never going to be able to do what Warnie did. Warnie's once-in-a-generation, he's the greatest to play the game in my opinion.

"I still feel in the shadow of Shane Warne now and I'm 129 Test matches in with 530 wickets. The thing is I'm happy with that and I'm comfortable with that now. A lot of us felt the pressure of Shane Warne's shadow... and it probably took me a good five, six, seven years to understand that pressure is a privilege. And if you've got pressure, you're OK, you're doing OK, enjoy it," Nathan Lyon expressed.

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Shane Warne retired from the sport in 2007 and was a critical pillar of Australia's all-around dominance. Nathan Lyon debuted four years ahead of his retirement, but he rose to the expectations when Australian fans worried about the next spin bowling sensation.

With a 30.28 average, Nathan Lyon has taken 530 wickets in 129 Test matches. The bowler, 36, has not yet surpassed Warne in terms of Test wickets, who boasts an incredible count of 708. But for Australian cricket fans, Lyon has been extraordinary.