ERROL PARKER | Editor-at-large | Contact
The nation’s Wattle Holder Nathan Lyon has sheepishly put his case forward to be the first spin bowler to captain the Australian Test side since Richie Benaud, by raising his eyebrows and smiling at the boys when the chat turns to who should replace Tim Paine as Test Captain.
“Fuuuuck,” said Steve Smith to the locker room.
”Who the fuck should replace Timmy? God, so hard.”
He then picked up his Nintendo Switch and started playing Zelda with his headphones in while the discussion continued around him.
Quick bowler Mitchell Starc laughed and said cheers but no thanks on his way to the showers.
It was followed by a knowing nod from the rest of the team.
Eyes then shifted to popular Pat Cummins, who shrugged and said, “Sure, if the selectors reckon it’s a go then righto, he’ll do it.” Gone are the days when he said he and the other quick bowlers would have to boot the side mirrors off former selector Trevor Hohns’ Holden Caprice. Usually with an out of form batsman in a showing of solidarity.
Big Marnus put his hand up and then said he was joking and laughed to himself. Warner didn’t laugh, he just looked at him and shook his head.
Then the chat circled around to Lyon, who smiled and raised his eyebrows at Coach Justin Langer, who was annoyed about something unrelated.
After telling the boys he wasn’t feeling himself because someone cut in front of him last night at the fish and chip shop, Langer said it was largely up to him and the selectors to decide who the captain was.
So Nathan smiled at him.
”Please stop smiling at me Nathan,” said Justin.
”I might need to put the whites back on myself at this rate.”
More to come.
