Nathan Lyon details fitness changes as Australia reach bowling milestone
The spinner says he has avoided alcohol for nine months, while Australia's four frontline bowlers reached 600 wickets in Tests played together.
Nathan Lyon says changes to his fitness routine and giving up alcohol have left him feeling better prepared than ever, after Australia's attack reached a combined 600 wickets in Tests they have played together.
Lyon finished with 2-58 on the third day in Durban as Australia bowled South Africa out for 284, taking a first-innings advantage of 106 runs. He, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood became the first quartet to reach the 600-wicket mark in shared Test appearances.
Approaching his 39th birthday, Lyon said he had gone nine months without alcohol. He has also increased his cycling and fitness training while recovering from a serious hamstring tear. The past year has included two omissions from Australia's Test side, but he said he had remained confident he would return.
Australia's second-highest wicket-taker wants to continue through at least the end of the next Ashes series and has not set a retirement date beyond that. Lyon said he believed he still had plenty of cricket to offer.
Australia ended the day at 0-33, with Nic Maddinson unbeaten on 17 and the overall lead at 139. Earlier, Steve Smith caught both Temba Bavuma and Kyle Verreynne at slip as they attempted reverse sweeps against Lyon.
