So why has it also favoured spin?

“If you talk to the batters, some batters find it hard to pick up the seam at nighttime when they’re batting, so potentially I’ll bowl a few more variations, simple things like cross seam and all that stuff to try and keep the batter guessing.”

Lyon is also set to go past Warne as part of a dynamic duo with Steve Smith. The pair are equal with Warne and Mark Taylor as the highest bowler-fielder wicket-taking combination in Australian history, with Taylor and Smith having taken 51 catches each off the respective spinning greats.

“Smithy actually sent me that message yesterday saying congrats that we were now equal with Tubby and Warnie,” Lyon said. “When you say it like that it’s pretty remarkable. Something that we’re both very proud of.

“To have someone like Steve Smith standing there for 90 per cent of my career it’s been pretty special. I’ve obviously got a lot of confidence in having Smithy there, and he gives me a lot of feedback on different paces, how the shape looks, etc, which is an unbelievable cricket conversation to have. So to be equal with Tubby and Warnie at the moment, hopefully we’ll overtake them pretty soon.

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In a remarkable career Lyon has taken 446 wickets at 32 to be ranked eighth on the all-time list of Test wicket-takers and is coming off another eight in the first Test against the West Indies in Perth, including figures of 6-128 in the second innings.

There are few spinners coming through the system as obvious replacements whenever Lyon decides he’s had enough, but he is particularly impressed with young Victorian Todd Murphy, 22.

Murphy has 14 wickets at an average of under 18 in three Sheffield Shield matches this season, include seven wickets in his recent match against NSW as Victoria claimed an unlikely victory.

Lyon first met Murphy when invited to Victorian training by former NSW teammate Nic Maddinson to do some work with the youngster two years ago when the teams were in an Adelaide Covid bubble.

“It’s just about him learning the craft tactically, mentally, and just really honing in on that stock ball. He’s definitely got that skill set,” Lyon said.

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