Cicadas hum. Barbecues hiss. Waves crash. But it’s the crack of leather on willow that’s the soundtrack of an Australian summer.  

 

Add to that, the sound of an Australian wicketkeeper calling out “Nice Garry” anytime the legendary Australian spinner, Nathan Lyon has the ball in hand. 

 

Ironically nicknamed Garry after the former AFL player, or the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time), Lyon holds the record for the most Test wickets by an Australian off-spinner (over 500), and is Australia’s third top Test wicket taker, behind only Shane Warne (708) and Glenn McGrath (563).   

 

Lyon grew up in Young, a small town in country NSW with a population of 7,000, noted as the cherry capital of Australia.  

 

His parents and grandmother used to drive him 90 minutes each way to Canberra twice a week to cricket training. Later, as a groundsman apprentice at Manuka Oval in Canberra, he earned $5.35 an hour.  

 

But it was when groundskeeping took him to Adelaide Oval that his cricketing talent was spotted. He offered his services as a net bowler during breaks from his greenkeeping. Within months, he was representing South Australia.  

 

Just four first-class matches later, he was putting on the baggy green for his Australian Test debut in 2011 – taking a wicket with his very first ball against Sri Lanka in Galle.  

 

In cricket, as in business, the hard work starts long before the main event and Lyon has some lessons he lives by that are also useful for business owners.  

 

Trust in your preparation   

 

“Trust in your preparation,” the cricketer says. “Trust your team and understand that you all have the same one goal.”  

 

He also takes to the field expecting success. “I’m not surprised when I have success, because I’ve done all the work. I’ve done the work this morning at the gym, tomorrow in the nets, training, whatever it may be. Every day I’m doing that work.”  

 

Pressure is a privilege   

 

As an elite sportsman, pressure takes on a new meaning for Lyon.  

 

“Pressure is a privilege,” he explains. “If you think about why you feel pressure, it’s because there are a lot of people who want to be in your shoes, doing that role.  

 

“Whether it’s a business pitch, a client meeting, or a summer Test at the MCG, pressure means you’ve earned the right to perform.”  

 

Never fear failing  

 

Through his mentoring, Lyon also wants to show young players there are many paths into elite sport.  

 

“Never fear failure,” he tells his mentees. “If you fear failing, you’re not going to grow. Failure gives you a real opportunity to learn.” He also says feedback should be seen as a gift. “Some days you’re not going to like that feedback, but you’ve got to realise that it’s coming from a decent heart, a decent place.” 

 

Kitchen table resilience  

 

Lyon has endured his share of setbacks and injuries, most notably a calf injury that saw him miss most of the 2023 Ashes series in England.   

 

“I kind of feel like resilience is built around the kitchen table,” he says.  

 

“I know that sounds really weird, but you build resilience from talking to your families, [and] resilience comes back down to trust. It’s having that trust in myself that I’ve done the work.  

 

“I can tell myself, ‘OK, this is what I’m going to do. This is what I need to do’, and visualise how I want to it to go.”   

 

Inclusion in action   

 

Beyond elite cricket, one of Lyon’s passions is his role as a national ambassador for disability programs at Cricket Australia.  

 

“I grew up with disabilities [in the community] around me and I look at cricket, and it’s such an incredible game,” he says. “It’s important to create a safe space where everyone should feel welcome to come out and play.”   

 

Speed round: 

 

Favourite country to tour? 

“Probably England. But one of my favourite tours was Pakistan in the COVID bubble. We had more toys than a daycare centre, with a pool table, ping pong, golf simulator and a basketball hoop.” 

 

Most memorable career moment?  

“Receiving my baggy green. Because the way I look at it, my family was receiving that as well.”   

 

Any superstitions?  

“My left foot is always on the field first. When I walk out to bat, I hit both my pads and squat down.” 

 

A version of this article was first published in Westpac's Backing Business Magazine