Hungry Lyon eyes World Cup glory

After once again showing his skill with the white ball in his return to the KFC Big Bash League, Magellan Ashes star Nathan Lyon remains as hungry as ever of winning a spot in Australia's squad for next year's World Cup.

Overlooked for Australia's Gillette ODI series against England after playing a leading role in the preceding Test triumph, Lyon sent a reminder that he's just as effective in the shortest format of the game as he has been recently in the longest.

In his second game back with Sydney Sixers, the off-spinner on Tuesday broke the back of Melbourne Stars' top-order with the key scalps of former Ashes foe Kevin Pietersen and Test teammate Peter Handscomb, finishing with 3-18 in a player-of-the-match performance.

In between stints in the Baggy Green, Lyon has been one of the BBL's best – and perhaps most underappreciated – performers in recent years. In the 20 games he's played over the five most recent BBL seasons for the Sixers, Lyon has claimed 31 wickets at 15.87 with an economy rate of 6.75.

Despite that, he's played just 14 limited-overs matches for Australia since his debut in 2012 with leg-spinner Adam Zampa, the leading ODI wicket-taker in 2016, holding down the spin-bowling spot in the 50-over side in recent times.

But Lyon reiterated his desire to become Australia's No.1 spinner in all three formats and admits the 2019 World Cup is very much in his sights.

"To be a part of a World Cup would be pretty special," Lyon told cricket.com.au at the MCG after the Sixers cruised to an eight-wicket win.

"That's definitely on my radar, I would love to be in that squad. I missed out on the home World Cup here (in 2015). 

"There's no secrets … I want to be playing all formats of cricket for Australia. 

"But I'm just focused on going out and bowling well for whoever I play for. At the moment, that's Sydney Sixers. 

"We've had an amazing summer winning the Ashes. I've just got to keep playing decent cricket with red ball, white ball, pink ball – whatever it is."

Even if an ODI recall isn't forthcoming, Lyon could well be spending some time with white ball in hand in the coming months.

The 30-year-old has nominated for this month's Indian Premier League auction, setting his reserve price at just under $AUD 300,000. 

It's a move former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum, a veteran of 10 IPL campaigns, questioned while commentating for Channel 10 Sport during the Stars-Sixers game. 

"I've got no doubt he'd go over there and do very, very well," said McCullum. "What he has in terms of skill set with the ball would be a huge weapon in the IPL.

"(But) he's too much of a valuable asset for the Australian cricket side to (put) him at risk.

"He's got a lot of overs to bowl moving forward. He's such a valuable asset that you don't want to risk him."

Lyon disagrees, explaining that he doesn't make major changes to the way he bowls when switching between formats and doesn’t believe he’s likely to get picked up in the auction anyway.

"I don't think it's a massive risk," Lyon said when asked about McCullum's comments.

"You saw today – I didn't bowl too many flatter balls. I'm still backing my strength of trying to spin the ball.

"I've put my name in (for the IPL auction) every year and never get picked up. 

"I just put my name out there especially after the year I’ve had. I’m very confident with my bowling at the moment but I’m not expecting to get picked up."

A pre-game net session with his former South Australia coach Darren Berry reaffirmed Lyon's belief in keeping things simple on Tuesday and that approach – along with some clever tactical nous – paid off within two deliveries of him being thrown the ball against the Stars.

After Pietersen swept him for four off his first offering, Lyon speared one in shorter and had the former England skipper pulling straight to deep mid-wicket – a fielder Lyon had moved about 20 metres straighter after the initial boundary.

"When you move certain players and straightaway and you get a wicket, it's quite satisfying," Lyon said.

Asked if a healthy respect existed between him and Pietersen, a tongue-in-cheek Lyon said: "England could have needed him this summer I reckon."