Garry chant rings around MCG as Lillee and Warnie once did

He may seem a little out of place in this company, but cult hero off-spinner Nathan Lyon is now among the likes of Dennis Lillee and Shane Warne on the list of revered idols to hear their names ring around the MCG.

Lyon was brought into the attack by Australian captain Steve Smith well inside the first hour of the Boxing Day Test as the Melbourne crowd gave him the treatment usually reserved for the all-time greats or Victorians.

The MCG chanted his nickname, ‘Garry’, in the way they had once roared on Lillee or Warnie as the two greats terrorised touring teams.

Lyon, who is nicknamed after Melbourne Demons AFL great Garry Lyon, delighted the crowd by claiming Australia’s first wicket.

In his first over, Lyon delivered a perfect off-break that Pakistan’s left-handed opener Sami Aslam could only glove to Smith at slip.

This summer, the often-maligned Lyon, who is regularly under pressure to hold his place in the team despite being Australia’s most successful off-spin bowler, has become a cult-hero of the Test side.