'Struggled with it early doors': Nathan Lyon opens up on the weight of expectation replacing Shane Warne

Australia's greatest ever off-spinner Nathan Lyon has opened up on the pressure he felt early in his career as he took over the spin bowling mantle from the legendary Shane Warne.

The late Warne retired from Test cricket in 2007, taking 708 wickets with him.

Lyon didn't debut in the baggy green until four years later but the aura of Warne still existed as Australia yearned for a player like 'The King of Spin' to emerge.

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Stuart MacGill was always considered next cab off the rank but he retired a year after Warne.

Brad Hogg, Beau Casson, Cameron White, Jason Krejza, Nathan Hauritz, Bryce McGain, Steve Smith, Xavier Doherty and Michael Beer were all used after MacGill's retirement.

Lyon took a wicket with his first ball in Test cricket, removing the great Kumar Sangakarra but the start of his career came with plenty of adversity.

At times he was dropped for an all-pace attack, and was also overlooked in the 2013 Ashes series for Ashton Agar.

Lyon admits he found the weight of expectation difficult early in his career.

"I probably struggled with it early doors because you would be trying your hardest every game but I feel like the media and the Australian public were asking who's the next spinner, we need a spinner to do what Shane Warne did on the last day," he told Sky Cricket.

Shane Warne's life in pictures: From Victoria boy to Aussie 'Spin King'

Shane Warne's life in pictures: From Victoria boy to Aussie 'Spin King'

"And I'm 10 matches into my first class career, I'm never going to be able to do what Warnie did. Warnie's once-in-a-generation, he's the greatest to play the game in my opinion and all I want to do is make my family proud, and make Shane Warne proud and just go out there and compete."

Lyon started to kick on following the Agar selection and now has 129 Test matches and 530 wickets to his name.

He's more than solidified his status as Australia's greatest off-spinner.

Despite the statistics, Lyon said he still feels the impact of Warne but now takes it as a "privilege".

"I still feel in the shadow of Shane Warne now and I'm 129 Test matches in with 530 wickets," he explained.

"The thing is I'm happy with that and I'm comfortable with that now.

"A lot of us felt the pressure of Shane Warne's shadow... and it probably took me a good five, six, seven years to understand that pressure is a privilege.

"And if you've got pressure, you're OK, you're doing OK, enjoy it."