Lyon's calm head underlines veteran's value

Desperate to return to the Test XI after last week's disappointment, Nathan Lyon had no qualms with his unusual role in the series decider against South Africa.

Only 11 overs into the opening day in Cape Town, after opting to bowl and sending the Proteas in, captain Pat Cummins threw his veteran spinner the ball after a wayward start from the quicks.

It was the earliest Lyon had been brought into the attack in an innings where Australia had won the toss and bowled since the Boxing Day Test of the 2013-14 Ashes series.

Mitch Starc joked that his long-time teammate was ready to board the team bus at 6am, such was his eagerness to get back into the Test action.

And the soon-to-be 38-year-old was a major reason for Australia's day one revival.

Marques Ackerman got off to a flyer in his second Test, punching balls to every corner of Newlands as the healthy crowd backed on the opener in just his second Test.

And the 30-year-old came out with extra intent against the off-spinner, trying to hit him out of the attack. It's a method that has served him well; his strike-rate against spin in first-class cricket in the past two years is more than 100.

After coming down the wicket and plonking Lyon well over the cow corner rope, the Australian's figures read 0-33 after six overs.

"There wasn't much turn on offer when he came on," Ackerman said after play. "So I tried to put him under a bit of pressure because then I knew the fast bowlers would have had to bowl a bit more regularly, (by) not having that fourth seamer in Beau Webster.

"That was definitely part of my game plan; try to put him under a bit of pressure."

Playing his 145th Test, Lyon set a new personal benchmark by bowling 12 overs before lunch, something he'd never been asked to do before when his team had chosen to bowl first.

And he created a chance with the second ball of the second session, putting down a tough return chance off the diminutive Ackerman. To that point, the Proteas opener had taken 23 runs off the 25 balls he'd faced from Lyon.

But Lyon would have the last laugh. His next seven balls would cost only three singles, with a flatter, faster trajectory causing a few Ackerman mis-hits. Growing impatient on 95, the left-hander charged out of his crease too early. Lyon threw it wide, and Alex Carey did the rest.

"He's a constant thinker, clearly," Starc said after play.

"You could see stuff starting to happen. Clearly, (there was) a young guy looking to score his first Test century … (and Lyon) got the better of him in the end and held his nerve.

"That's the Nathan Lyon we know, that's what he brings to the table."

It was the breakthrough Australia needed after a bruising 158-run opening stand.

Lyon was reintroduced to the attack when Temba Bavuma walked out, having dismissed the South Africa captain in Durban. And he needed just the one ball to repeat the result. A perfect length that caught Bavuma on the crease and skidded on after a touch of drift through the air. Lyon's celebration was telling, peeling off towards the base of Table Mountain and delivering a spirited fist pump.

Mitchell Starc credited Lyon for being the "ultimate team man" after being left out in Gqeberha for carrying the drinks with gusto in the innings defeat.

And on a day where he was able to shed the substitutes' orange vest and take two crucial top-order wickets, he further pushed his case as a 'must-be-in-the-team man'.

Qantas tour of South Africa 2026

All matches to be broadcast exclusively in Australia on Kayo and Fox Cricket

First Test: Australia won by 214 runs

Second Test: South Africa won by an innings and 31 runs

Third Test: October 27-31, Newlands, Cape Town, 7:30pm AEDT (10:30am local)

South Africa Test squad: Temba Bavuma (c), Marques Ackerman, David Bedingham, Corbin Bosch, Gerald Coetzee, Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Dane Paterson, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne

Australia Test squad: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster