Nathan Lyon is expecting England to send its strongest possible squad for this summer's Ashes, despite several players voicing concerns over COVID-enforced living conditions they'll be subjected to while in Australia.
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England captain Joe Root confirmed this week his side would definitely make the trip to contest the Ashes, although the make up of his side is yet to be determined.
Star man Ben Stokes will likely miss the series after a second surgery on a troublesome finger, while speed demon Jofra Archer is out with an elbow injury.
Cricket Australia allayed any remaining COVID concerns of Root's this week, and Lyon expected the English captain would be surrounded by his best available deputies come the opening Test at the Gabba on December 8.
"I'm expecting a fully strength England side to come out," Lyon said.
"Knowing Joe Root on a personal note, firstly he's a great guy but I know he's a very good competitor as well and I know he likes getting into the fight out in the middle.
"I'm expecting England to come out pretty much full strength. Ashes series make people's careers, if someone comes out and has an absolute blinder of an Ashes series, that really sets their careers up.
"I know if I was in that position I'd be putting up my hand and jumping on that squad.
"It's a pinnacle for an Australian cricketer, every boy and girl who grow up playing backyard cricket it's always Australia v England, it was in my household.
"If you lost the toss you were England and if you won the toss you were Australia. We're looking forward to a pretty amazing summer around the corner."
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Lyon hasn't played a competitive cricket match since NSW lost the Sheffield Shield final to Queensland in April, and has spent a significant chunk of that time in lockdown at his Sydney home.
Australia, meanwhile, has played just four Tests in the past 18 months amid the global COVID pandemic.
And the virus's effects will be felt again this summer, with the Australian squad likely to need a two-week quarantine period in Queensland to prepare for the Gabba Test.
The fifth Ashes Test, scheduled for Perth in January, is also potentially in peril should Western Australia refuse to open its border to the rest of the country.
"With the current situation with the pandemic going on in the world, I don't think we can argue too much [with the lack of Test cricket]," Lyon said.
"I'd love to be playing more Test cricket, don't get me wrong. Test cricket is the pinnacle for me, the more games I'm able to play for Australia, the happier I'll be.
"I've got no dramas with quarantine, I'm happy to jump in there and get it done. It's a pretty small price to pay to go out there and have the opportunity to go out there and play for Australia, and whenever that comes around I look forward to it."
Lyon will likely have two Shield matches for NSW to prepare for the Ashes series, although Cricket Australia is yet to finalise its domestic summer. The Blues will play a centre wicket match on Friday, and have two intra-squad matches scheduled for next week before their next Shield assignment.
"This is my first ever preseason in 10 years of first class and international cricket - I'm really confident with where I'm at and it's been very nice to recharge the batteries," Lyon said.
"If the Test started tomorrow, I would be itching to go and knowing that my skill set is where it needs to be. I'm very happy with my preparation thus far."
James Buckley
James is a Queanbeyan boy enjoying his second stint at the Canberra Times, more than eight years on from his first. In between he's traveled the world, and spent time covering sport in Sydney.
James is a Queanbeyan boy enjoying his second stint at the Canberra Times, more than eight years on from his first. In between he's traveled the world, and spent time covering sport in Sydney.
