Speaking on SEN 1170 Mornings, Matthews stated that the 37-year-old Lyon, who already holds 562 Test wickets, was well prepared for a career-defining tour.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cLyon, write this down \u2013 this tour will define his legacy,\u201d Matthews said. Drawing a comparison with Andrew Flintoff\u2019s iconic 2005 Ashes, he added, \u201cGo back and you think of Freddie in England. Bats at 31 in Test cricket, bowls at 32 but has a white-hot Ashes. This will define Lyon.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
While much of the build-up has focused on injuries to Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, Matthews insisted that Australia\u2019s real strength lies not in pace but in spin\u2014especially given what he sees as England\u2019s vulnerability.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cEngland\u2019s greatest weakness is spin and yet we want to prepare seaming decks,\u201d he said. \u201cWhen we\u2019ve got a guy with 562 Test wickets who is going to hold our attack together \u2013 our strength lies in Lyon, theirs doesn\u2019t lie in spin.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
He also suggested that England\u2019s selection strategy reveals their expectations.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThey\u2019ve brought a fast bowling attack expecting to receive reciprocal wickets that suit fast bowling.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Matthews then turned his attention to the rest of the Australian squad, beginning with a player he believes was unfairly overlooked.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI\u2019m going to start with a guy who didn\u2019t get picked \u2013 Sam Konstas,\u201d he said. \u201cWent to the West Indies, guess how many people scored a hundred in six digs in that series? No one. And people bag him.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
He called Jake Weatherald \u201can absolute must,\u201d and suggested veteran Usman Khawaja is under mounting scrutiny.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cKhawaja is under stupid pressure\u2026 in his last 28 Tests \u2013 you take out the 232 \u2013 he averages 25. How does that work? I don\u2019t think he\u2019ll last the series.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Among the positives, Matthews welcomed Marnus Labuschagne\u2019s return, saying, \u201cThank god you\u2019re back. We need this man. Five hundreds this season, you Ronnie Coote.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
He also praised Steve Smith, calling him \u201cthe greatest batter in cricket in the world at the moment in my humble opinion.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
On the all-round options, he was blunt:<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cCam Green and Beau Webster \u2013 what the hell are you journos talking about? Do not rob Peter to pay Paul. You pick one or the other and it\u2019s got to be Green.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
He described wicketkeeper Alex Carey as a given, and lauded Brendan Doggett\u2019s emergence.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cAll of a sudden we\u2019ve got a quick with great stats, great numbers, good bumper, good attitude, you beaut.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Matthews said Scott Boland is \u201ca no-brainer\u201d and backed him to be the leading wicket-taker. He was equally enthusiastic about Mitchell Starc \u2014 \u201cyou Ronnie Coote, thank god he\u2019s fit because he is a wicket-taker\u201d \u2014 and impressed by Hazlewood\u2019s return.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cAll of a sudden we\u2019ve got a quick with great stats, great numbers, good bumper, good attitude, you beaut.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThe thing no one has talked about is the calm of Cummins,\u201d Matthews said. \u201cIt\u2019s not his 270-something wickets at 21. He brings a calm not even Mark Taylor brought to the team\u2026 To lose him is a massive loss because of his calm nature and his bowling.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n