Ashes: I do believe we can win 5-0 for sure – Nathan Lyon makes a bold prediction

Australia’s veteran spinner Nathan Lyon has predicted that the home team can go on to win the ongoing Ashes series by 5-0 after comprehensively winning the opening Test match by nine wickets at Gabba, Brisbane.

The hosts were able to draw first blood in the series and they would aim to continue the same form in their own conditions.

On the other hand, England will have their work cut to make a comeback in the series. In fact, it has been noticed in the past that Australia has run away with the Ashes if they go on to win the opening Test match of the series.

The Aussies are playing in their own conditions and they will certainly have their wood on England in the remaining four Test matches, especially after winning the first Test. However, the next match which will be played at Adelaide will be a pink-ball Test match and it will be England’s best bet to make a comeback in the series.

Furthermore, England has lost 10 out of their last 11 Ashes Tests, which have been played Down Under. Thus, the English team has had a dry run in Australia in the last decade.

Speaking to The Herald and The Age ahead of the day-night Test in Adelaide, Lyon said: “I do believe we can win 5-0 … for sure. “I’ve never walked into a Test series thinking I’m going to go in there and lose a game. We’ll do everything we can. If we prepare well and play the right positive brand of cricket under our new captain, there’s no reason why we can’t win 5-0.”

Lyon added: “In saying that, England’s a classy outfit, and they’re going to challenge us here and there. With two pink-ball games now, we’re going to make sure we’re totally on our game.”

England spinner Jack Leach had a horrid match in the first Test as he was taken for 102 runs in the 13 overs he bowled and could only scalp a solitary wicket in the first innings. On the other hand, Lyon scalped four wickets in the second innings and played a key role in his team’s win. The experienced Australian spinner added that it’s not up to him whether England will decide to play Leach in the second Test match at Adelaide.

“I’m always happy to play a spinner on no matter what wicket. The way I look at Test cricket, you just can’t pick your team for the first session of the Test. Test cricket is a long, challenging game, but I am expecting [Stuart] Broad and [Jimmy] Anderson to play.”

“Whether they play a spinner or not, that’s not up to me. It is challenging but no doubt he’s a class bowler and he’ll bounce back. He’ll do his work and we need to make sure Australia is prepared.

I don’t know what the Adelaide wicket is going to look like but I can guarantee it’ll be a cracking wicket in my eyes.”

The second Test match will be played from December 16.