Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon says it would be a dream come true to win the Ashes in England and he has even thought about how he would celebrate if it happened.
The 2019 campaign will be Lyon’s third Ashes tour to the UK, where Australia have not won a Test series since the 4-1 triumph of Steve Waugh’s men in 2001.
In the 18 years since, four touring parties have returned home empty handed, twice under captain Ricky Ponting (2005 and 2009) and twice (2013 and 2015) with Michael Clarke at the helm.
Clarke was Lyon’s captain on his previous visits to England where the off-spinner has played eight Tests with a record of two wins, four losses and two draws, a stats sheet he is desperate to improve.
Lyon has been part of Australian Test teams that have won the Ashes at home, including a 5-0 whitewash in 2013-14. He has won away in South Africa and Asia, and been part of the Test side crowned No1 in the world.
But the 31-year-old says winning an Ashes series in England is the ultimate.
“It’s like a dream,” Lyon said on the latest episode of The Unplayable Podcast.
“As a kid you always dream of firstly playing cricket for Australia but then winning the Ashes.
“Winning the Ashes is always (up) there but winning it away makes it more special.”
Driving Lyon as much as anything is the vision of Test legend Shane Warne jubilantly celebrating winning the 1997 Ashes series at Trent Bridge with a Test to play.
With the stumps in both hands above his head, Warne danced victoriously after Australia won the fifth Test by 264 runs to take an unassailable 3-1 lead in the six-match series.
The memory of Warne grooving on the away dressing room balcony in front of thousands of fans is a fantasy he hopes to live in less than two months.
And he’s been practicing just in case it comes to fruition.
“The big memory for me is seeing Shane Warne with the stump,” Lyon said.
“That’s the biggest thing. I’m desperate to replicate that. I reckon it would be brilliant.
“If we win the Ashes I’ll do it. I’ve been practicing, don’t worry about that.
“Like Steve Smith batting in his room, I’ve got a stump up there.”