If Scotland are being pitched in at the deep end in their initial foray into Twenty/20 cricket, at least Ross Lyons looks every inch a surfer in the making. Peroxided, or lemon juiced, to the max, the young Clydesdale spinner intends to blend in during his stint in South Africa, riding the wave for all it is worth.
Five months have passed since Lyons ventured to the Caribbean for the grown-up World Cup as the 22-year-old baby of the bunch. There he was afforded no more meaningful a contribution than to carry on the drinks to hydrate the calamitous Saltires. But with the southern hemisphere pitches amenable to his burgeoning brand of spin, this trip may allow Lyons to make more of a splash.
Time is of the essence ahead of the group games against India and Pakistan. With just one practice session behind them, Ryan Watson's men meet Bangladesh in a warm-up today at Centurion Park with Zimbabwe to follow tomorrow. However limited, the experience will be of help.
"We have a reputation for beating the counties when it comes to shortened or limited-over matches," said Lyons.
"We beat Lancashire, Worcestershire, Somerset.
"We have Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, two good teams to warm up against. But it could be a lot worse. If we'd had the Aussies or South Africans again, and gone and got absolutely humped, it would have killed morale before the tournament had even started. These are two that, even if we don't win, if we play to the best of our ability, we can score 150, 180."
Lyons has travelled to South Africa before, as part of a Western District youth tour. No surprise, but he liked the beaches. The cricket was favourable too. "Flat wickets, short boundaries, so it will be an interesting challenge if I'm bowling in that," he added.
The variables altered yesterday when Pakistan sent Shoaib Akhtar home. Every little helps. However, as Lyons pointed out, ample quality remains in the shape of another Clydesdale export, Yasir Arafat.
"When he first came to Glasgow we thought he was just a quick bowler but now he is playing county cricket for Sussex and for Pakistan," said Lyons. "He's doing really well for himself and I'm happy for him - it's always good to see a Clydesdale boy doing OK."
Particularly when they swim, not sink.
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