Lyon lauds Muralitharan

MuttiahMuralitharan

Muralitharan was appointed as a coaching consultant by Cricket Australia last month and will work with the side for the matches against Pakistan in October.

And Lyon has been learning some tricks of the trade from the man who took a world-record 800 wickets in his glittering Test career.

The 26-year-old, who has a more modest 112 wickets from his 33 Tests, has developed a new delivery, though he did not credit this entirely to Muralitharan.

"It wasn't like I rocked into Colombo, worked with Murali and suddenly I could bowl a new ball," he said in quotes reported by The New Daily.

"I've been working with John Davison [Australia spin bowling coach] for a while now just to nut out a few different variations."

Muralitharan will accompany the side to the United Arab Emirates - where Australia will meet Pakistan in one Twenty20, three one-day internationals and two Tests - and Lyon is relishing that prospect.

"To have Murali on board for the UAE is fantastic," he added.

"I learnt some things over there and it's awesome to be around one of the greats of the game."

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