Nathan Lyon loathes the "greatest of all time" tag but Australian Test legend Michael Hussey has challenged him to usurp Shane Warne and become just that.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Lyon ripped through the Bangladesh line-up with 22 wickets in two Tests to take his career tally to 269 - well short of Warne's mark of 708.
But Hussey says Lyon is just entering his prime and has backed him to silence the critics and forge a legacy as one of Australia's best ever players.
The Australian cricket team has three esteemed positions in the captain, vice-captain, and the one that leads the victory song, Under the Southern Cross I Stand.
The latter is a position of distinction only eight players have held since its institution in 1974 and Hussey was the man that passed the duties on to Lyon following his retirement in 2013.
Hussey mentored Lyon when he first came into the Australian squad and always thought "if he was given half a chance he would have a great career".
Now he has handed him a challenge that shapes as nearly impossible, but it's one that could end up making Lyon's name one remembered for generations.
"My last message to him was 'you've just got to catch Warney now'," Hussey said.
"He's number two for Australian spinners, now it's time to catch Warney. You never know, it might be a bit of a tough ask but if he keeps playing and keeps performing well, there's no reason why he can't keep performing for quite a few years to come.
"I think he's just coming into his prime now."
Lyon has long had his doubters but reaffirmed his position as Australia's premier spinner with 22 wickets in two Tests against Bangladesh.
While Lyon's epic series made a huge statement to the knockers, Hussey says "he doesn't have to prove it to me, I already knew" the former Wests-UC tweaker is the best in the country.
Hussey admits Lyon has his fair share of critics but the 29-year-old's record proves he will be a vital cog in the Australian team as they look to win the Ashes and return to the mantle as the world's best.
"It's a difficult one for the spinners, for anyone to follow Shane Warne," Hussey said.
"You're just expecting miracles all the time because that's pretty much what Warney did for Australia for over a decade.
"The stereotype is the spinner is just going to come on and rip through the opposition and win the Test match for Australia on the last day.
"That's what everyone expected after Warney, but unfortunately the game is a lot harder than that. We had Warne and McGrath there for over a decade and they're two of the greatest players to have ever played.
"It was always going to be a lot tougher but I think he's found what his role is within the team. He has a really good understanding of his game and what makes him successful."
Hussey likened Lyon's critics to those in search of the next Adam Gilchrist as Australian wicketkeeper, which has some losing sight of a gloveman's main role - to keep wicket, not score runs.
Former Test batsman Ed Cowan has already set Lyon the task of eclipsing 500 Test wickets to join an elite group featuring only Warne, Muttiah Muralitharan, Anil Kumble, Glenn McGrath and Courtney Walsh.
Lyon is ranked second behind Warne for the most wickets in Asia by an Australian following a "brilliant" showing in Bangladesh.
Now Hussey has backed Lyon to reap the rewards when Australia start their Ashes campaign against England in November.
