[Watch] Nathan Lyon searches for the red ball in the bushes, finds white ball instead during NSW vs SA Sheffield Shield 2024 match
Veteran Australian and New South Wales spinner Nathan Lyon was seen looking for the red ball in the bushes during the Sheffield Shield fixture against South Australia in Sydney. Other players were also busy looking for the red ball, but it was Lyon who found a ball, but it was a white one.
The moment occurred due to a South Australian batter hitting the ball a long way for a six as the New South Wales players went looking for it. The commentators were equally enjoying the hilarious moment as cricket.com.au shared a video on social media.
South Australian batters struggled, barring captain Nathan McSweeney (55) and Alex Carey (90) as they folded for 260 in response to New South Wales' total to 366, conceding a 106-run lead.
Nathan Lyon warms up for the Test series against India with a fifer
Meanwhile, the veteran enjoyed the main role in bowling South Australia for 260 in 86.3 overs, taking figures of 24.3-8-47-5. The record-breaking off-spinner dismissed Carey, Daniel Drew, Ben Manenti, Nathan McAndrew, and Jordan Buckingham for his fifer.
After day two of the fixture, the 36-year-old said he had been itching to get back into the field and trained intensely ahead of the five-Test series against India. As quoted by ESPNcricinfo, he claimed:
"I've been itching to get back playing. It's what I love doing. feel like I've been training the house down and in a really good headspace. I had [spin coach] John Davison down last week, so just ticking those boxes with a really big summer ahead."
The five-Test series between India and Australia begins on November 22 at the Optus Stadium in Perth. With Lyon having a promising record against India, a lot will depend on how he goes as the hosts aim to regain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Australia have notably suffered a series loss at home twice to India.