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How to tune into Sport NationMatthews: Why this Ashes will define Lyon’s legacy
SEN • November 19th, 2025 3:15 pm
Former Australian Test player Greg Matthews has named the player he believes holds the key to Australia’s Ashes hopes.
The former off-spinner and left-hand bat reckons Nathan Lyon can “define his legacy” against England this summer.
Much of the talk has revolved around injuries to Australia’s star fast bowlers Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, and despite the bevy of quicks England has brought with them, spin can still play a massive part.
And Matthews feels veteran spinner Lyon, at the ripe old age of 37, is primed to be Australia’s saviour.
“Lyon, write this down - this tour will define his legacy,” Matthews said on SEN 1170 Mornings.
“Go back and you think of Freddie (Flintoff) in England. Bats at 31 in Test cricket, bowls at 32 but has a white-hot Ashes.
“This will define Lyon. England’s greatest weakness is spin and yet we want to prepare seaming decks.
“When we’ve got a guy with 562 Test wickets who is going to hold our attack together - our strength lies in Lyon, there’s doesn’t lie in spin.
“They’ve brought a fast bowling attack expecting to receive reciprocal wickets that suit fast bowling.”
Matthews commented on the rest of the Australian squad, kicking off with a player he believes was extremely unlucky not to be selected.
“I’m going to start with a guy who didn’t get picked - (Sam) Konstas,” said ‘Mo’.
“Went to the West Indies, guess how many people scored a hundred in six digs in that series? No one. And people bag him.
“(Jake) Weatherald is an absolute must
“(Usman) Khawaja is under stupid pressure because in his last 28 Tests - you take out the 232 (he scored in Sri Lanka) - he averages 25.
“How does that work? I don’t think he’ll last the series.
“Marnus (Labuschagne), thank god you’re back. We need this man. Five hundreds this season, you Ronnie Coote.
“(Steve) Smith is the greatest batter in cricket in the world at the moment in my humble opinion.
“(Travis) Head, runs, and he’s going to get us a couple of wickets. Technically he’s not that efficient.
“(Cam) Green and (Beau) Webster - what the hell are you journos talking about? Do not rob Peter to pay Paul. You pick one or the other and it’s got to be Green.
“Wicketkeeper goes unsaid (Alex Carey).
“(Brendan) Doggett. Isn’t it great. I’m not talking Jeff Thompson but I’m going to mention this name. All of a sudden we’ve got a quick with great stats, great numbers, good bumper, good attitude, you beaut.
“(Scott) Boland, no-brainer. I’ve backed him to be the leading wicket-taker for the series.
“(Mitch) Starc, you Ronnie Coote, thank god he’s fit because he is a wicket-taker.
“(Josh) Hazlewood, wow. What a blowout.”
Matthews also wanted to highlight what he believes to be a gaping hole in the Australian side for the first Test in Perth and it revolves around the calmness of captain Pat Cummins.
“The thing that no one, not one of you journos has talked about, is the calm of Cummins. It’s not his 270-something wickets at 21,” he said of the injured skipper.
“He brings a calm not even Mark Taylor brought to the team and that is going to be scary because Smith doesn’t have that kind of calm.
“To lose him is a massive loss because of his calm nature and his bowling.”
Listen to the full chat with Matthews below:
