Arthur defends Lyon's bowling

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Critics ... Mickey Arthur defends Australia Test spinner Nathan Lyon. Source: William West / AFP

Australia Test offspinner Nathan Lyon he couldn't care less about accusations he bowls too fast.

Age: 25

State team: South Australia

Bowls: right-arm offspin

Test debut: Aug 31 2011 v Sri Lanka, Galle

Matches: 17

Test record: 56 wickets at 31.92

This Test summer: 2-136 and 2-41 v S.Africa in Brisbane, 2-91 and 3-49 v S.Africa in Adelaide, 3-41 and 0-128 v S.Africa in Perth, 2-76 and 0-57 v Sri Lanka in Hobart.

"I'm definitely not afraid of tossing it up and seeing if they want to take me on and really explore and get in that contest and try and get some wickets,'' Lyon said.

"I'm not really fazed about what people are coming out and saying.

"We're out there in the middle. We know what pace we have to bowl on that pitch.

"It's easy sitting at home. I'm communicating with 'Pup' (Michael Clarke) and 'Wadey' (wicketkeeper Matthew Wade) every over about my pace.''

Lyon attracted more criticism following his 0-57 in Sri Lanka's second innings in last week's first Test in Hobart.

Former Test legspinner Stuart MacGill said not only was Lyon rushing through his overs too quickly but he was bowling too fast.

"People are going to have their own opinion but I'm really confident in my own skill set,'' said Lyon, 25.

"I have the full confidence of (coach and selector) Mickey Arthur and (captain and selector) Michael Clarke.

"Whatever people are saying outside the Australian cricket room doesn't really affect me.

"I'm learning every time I go out to bowl,'' the 17-Test player added.

"There have been a couple of day-five pitches but in Adelaide South Africa batted fantastic and in Hobart we got the result (with pacemen Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc and Shane Watson sharing the 10 wickets between them).

"There are a lot of expectations on the spinner but I'm not worried about that.

"I'm worried about doing the right thing for the team and working well with 'Pup' and all the other bowlers.''

Arthur took a swipe on at Lyon's critics.

"I've read a lot about Nathan Lyon over the last couple of weeks. He's still the quickest offspinner to 50 wickets,'' Arthur said.

"He's young. He's still finding out about his bowling.

The special guest on Inside Cricket this week is West Indian great, Sir Viv Richards.

Widely regarded as one of the best batsmen of all time, Viv Richards' powerful, swashbuckling style and record-breaking career saw him named as one of the five Cricketers of the Century in 2000.

Viv joins old sparring partner Allan Border on the panel, alongside Mark Waugh and host Brendon Julian as they relive his stellar career.

Viv will also discuss his new coaching role with the Melbourne Stars, after linking up with fellow cricket legend Shane Warne in the BBL.
 

Watch Inside Cricket - Monday night at 8.30pm (EDT) on Fox Sports 2 and 2HD.

"He has immense potential though. Spinners only reach their peak at 28 or 29.

"Nathan's doing everything right.''

Lyon said the Australians had backed their quicks to do the damage on a Hobart pitch that offered variable bounce.

"Hopefully here or even the SCG might be a bit more friendly to spin bowling,'' Lyon said.

"It comes down to the different conditions and the different roles you have to play.''

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Mathews ready for captaincy

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Ready ... Angelo Mathews says he would relish captaining Sri Lanka. Source: Rick Rycroft / AP

If Sri Lanka want Angelo Mathews to become their next cricket captain, he is ready.

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The all-rounder goes into the Boxing Day Test - Sri Lanka's first Test at the MCG since the infamous 1995 Muttiah Muralitharan chucking controversy - in run-scoring nick.

The 25-year-old looks certain to take over as skipper once Mahela Jayawardene steps aside at the end of the current series.

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And he is confident that "his own ways'' of approaching captaincy can succeed, though he admits replacing Jayawardene will be difficult.

"I'm pretty much prepared. If they offer me the captain's job, I'll probably take it,'' Mathews said.

"Mahela's done a wonderful job and it's not easy to take those reins and do as well as Mahela. It will be a tough challenge.

"But let's see how it goes.''

Mathews has made 79, 84 and 75 in his past three Tests, but despite 11 half-centuries has only once scored a Test century.

That was against Australia, and Mathews has also shone at the MCG in a one-day international when his 77 not out as part of a 132-run ninth wicket stand gave Sri Lanka an extraordinary one-wicket win over the Aussies in 2010.

With Australia set to hand paceman Jackson Bird a Test debut, Mathews admitted the Sri Lankans knew little about the Tasmanian.

"To play for Australia, he has to be a good bowler - we cannot take him lightly,'' Mathews said.

"We have to try and be careful and take on the challenge. We need to get hold of his videos and analyse him.''

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Milligan banned for two games

Banned ... Victory's Mark Milligan has been outed for two matches after last weekend's Derby. Source: JOE CASTRO / AAP

Melbourne Victory midfielder Mark Milligan has been banned for two A-League matches for a jab to the stomach of Heart rival Jonatan Germano in last weekend's derby.

Milligan's first half hit on Germano was missed by match officials, but was picked up by the match review panel in its deliberations on Monday.

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The Socceroo will miss the Victory's clash with Newcastle at AAMI Park on Friday night, and the New Year's Day match at Western Sydney Wanderers.

"The MRP determined that the player had committed the offence of assault on a player (violent conduct when not challenging for the ball) against Jonatan Germano," the panel said in a statement.

It is a double blow for the Victory, who have already lost skipper Adrian Leijer for the Jets match after his suspension for exceeding the yellow card limit.

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Fischer tips Sydney-Hobart drag race

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Drag race ... Ragamuffin and Wild Oats ready for battle. Source: Mark Evans / News Limited

Ragamuffin Loyal skipper Syd Fischer is tipping a drag race between Wild Oats XI and his boat in the battle for line honours in the Sydney to Hobart.

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The two super maxis remain favourites to secure line honours with Wild Oats XI having previously been first to reach Hobart on five occasions and Investec Loyal - as she was known then - claiming the honour last year.

"I think it's going to be a bit of drag race actually, because they are going to be watching us and were going to be watching them,'' Fischer said.

The oldest competitor in the race at 85, Fischer is confident his boat is ready to go after an eventful leadup.

It required repairs to rigging after the mast struck Sydney's Anzac Bridge just under two weeks ago.

"We were struggling, we had a couple of problems that we've had to overcome but we're pretty right,'' Fischer said.

Eternally respectful of the weather's influence on the race, Fischer was cautious about talking up his boat's line honours prospects.

"I think we're confident we've got a good chance, but I don't like overestimating a situation that you can't control,'' Fischer said.

The fleet of 77 is expected to start in south easterly breezes of around 15 knots on Wednesday.

The winds will lighten after a few hours but forecast northerlies will kick the fleet along on Thursday.

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With a westerly change now likely to arrive earlier than expected on Thursday it may be hard for any boat to break the race record.

"The race record to us is a bonus ... it all depends on the conditions,'' Wild Oats XI skipper Mark Richards said.

"It's possible, the nor-easter may stay in for an extra three or four hours and that's a big deal in these boats.''

Richards acknowledged for the record to fall, his boat would have to cover as much of the 628-nautical mile course as possible before the westerly change hits.

"Don't back off, push as fast as you can and hopefully you can sail the shortest course possible and the rest is in the hands of the gods.''

There was nothing in the latest weather forecast to concern Fischer, who will be doing the race for the 44th time.

"I don't think we're going to get knocked around too much,'' Fischer said.

"It will be a race in which attention to detail will be the main thing.''

Richards emphasised it wouldn't be all smooth sailing, especially with southerlies to contend with on the first night.

"It's going to be big and bumpy and uncomfortable,'' Richards said.

The latest forecast still appeared to favour the bigger boats in the battle for overall honours.

"The overall winner is likely to come from a boat 60 foot or larger and it depends on who gets through some of those transition periods the best,'' said Matt Allen skipper of the 70-foot Ichi Ban.

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Pattinson to resume in one-dayers

Return ... James Pattinson is set to play in Australia's one-day series against Sri Lanka. Source: AFP

Pace bowler James Pattinson is set to resume from a rib injury in the one-day series against Sri Lanka in January, Cricket Australia's team physio Alex Kountouris said on Monday.

Pattinson broke down during last month's second Test against South Africa in Adelaide but was able to train with Australia's Test squad at the MCG nets on Monday morning.

"James is making good progress from the rib injury he sustained against South Africa," Kountouris said.

"He has resumed bowling and building up his bowling workloads to be available for the series against Sri Lanka."

The five-match ODI series starts on January 11 at the MCG.

Pattinson has a tremendous record in his seven-Test career of 31 wickets at an average of 22.09 and the 22-year-old is a key part of Australia's plans for the 2013 Ashes tour.

All-rounder John Hastings, who made his Test debut in Perth last month against South Africa before being rested from Big Bash League games for Melbourne Stars because of a back injury, is also returning to full fitness.

"John has recovered from the back injury. He is preparing to play in the BBL for the Melbourne Stars later this week," Kountouris said.

The Stars' next BBL game is in Adelaide against the Strikers on December 27.

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