Lyon open to Test vice-captaincy

Nathan Lyon won't turn down the chance to be Tim Paine's vice-captain, but he says all of Australia's experienced players need to "step up" and fill the leadership vacuum left by Steve Smith and David Warner. 

Australia are yet to unveil Paine's deputy following the ball-tampering scandal and Lyon, the country's most experienced Test player by some margin, is among the lead contenders to fill the role.

The 30-year-old was overlooked when Warner was appointed Smith's deputy in 2015 and while he has no senior captaincy experience, is a highly-respected member of the playing group.

Fast bowler Pat Cummins effectively ruled himself out of the role last month, telling cricket.com.au there are "better options" than him to be Paine's off-sider, while allrounder Mitchell Marsh has been endorsed by former Test and ODI deputy Adam Gilchrist.

Lyon says fellow bowlers Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood are among those who need to take on extra responsibility, regardless of who gets the job.

"If they offered it to me, I wouldn't say no," Lyon told cricket.com.au. "But it's not something I'm striving for.

"There will be a vice-captain appointed, but I think there'll be a good leadership group in that Test squad.

"Look at the bowlers, we've had some success together and gone through some hard times recently and that's only going to put us in good stead moving forward. 

"Those guys and throw in Mitch Marsh, Shaun Marsh and Uzzie (Khawaja), the more senior players, we're going to have to play a big role as a group to be Tim's vice-captains."

Marsh was last week named captain of the Australia A squad for their tour of India later this year in further acknowledgement of his leadership potential. In addition to captaining Western Australia domestically, Marsh is a World Cup winning captain at Under-19 level.

"It's not something I am focused on solely ... I want to become the best cricketer and best person I can be," Marsh said when asked about the vice-captaincy.

"If that means in time I become the Australian vice-captain, then so be it.

"I have grown into the role (as WA captain) but right now I feel my leadership has grown over the past 12 months."

Lyon's leadership qualities were strongly endorsed by Mike Hussey back in 2013 when, upon his retirement, the Test legend handed Lyon the responsibility of singing the Australian team's song.

"I picked Nathan because I think he is a man of great character, he plays the game for the right reasons," Hussey said at the time.

"I think he understands and respects the fabric of the Baggy Green cap, and that’s what I want to come through from him when he leads the team songs in the future."

Lyon says he "nearly had a heart attack" in Cape Town when vision of Australia's attempted ball-tampering was first shown on the big screen at Newlands, setting off a chain of events that led to the three players involved being suspended.

The off-spinner said Smith and Warner will leave "massive holes" in the side as those left behind look to rebuild under new coach Justin Langer.

"There's a few of us who can stand up and be a little bit more vocal," he said.

"I think it's a great opportunity to really look in the mirror and look and yourself and evaluate where you are in the side and in Australian cricket.

"(We have to) start to rebuild the trust and faith of the Australian public and cricket fans around the world.

"It's a rebuilding phase, it's a new era ... so I think I've got a really big job along with the other senior players ... in making sure we're doing everything right by Cricket Australia and the Australian public and play the best possible cricket we can."