'For him it's the equivalent of a World Cup' - Mitchell Starc reflects on Nathan Lyon's World Test Championship success

Australia spinner Nathan Lyon watched as teammates earned two World Cups over the preceding decade, but it wasn't until the ICC World Test Championship Final that he actually experienced how it feels like winning an ICC event when he got his hands on the coveted Test mace. 

Lyon, who failed to qualify for Australia's winning squads at the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup in 2015 and the ICC Men's T20 World Cup in 2021, made the most of his opportunity after he eventually received the call to the world's greatest showcase in his preferred format in the WTC Final.

The 35-year-old proved pivotal on Day 5 of the WTC Final after Australia limited India's second innings to 234 and secure a 209-run triumph. Lyon concluded with figures of 4/41, notably the vital early wicket of Rohit Sharma early in the fourth innings and the last wicket that cemented the victory.

They easily overcame India to take home the World Test Championship. The Pat Cummins-led side became the first team to have ever won every major ICC competition. The Aussies currently hold nine ICC titles to their name.

In a comparable vein, Mitchell Starc of Australia complimented his teammate and claimed that Lyon's success in the WTC Final is equivalent to a World Cup triumph.

"Nathan just made a comment there: It's sort of his World Cup, having not been able to play in a final of a World Cup. Obviously he's played a lot of Test cricket, so for him it's the equivalent of a World Cup. Pat and I, and Josh, have been around for all three, Mitch Marsh as well, who's on the side here. ‘Davey' and ‘Smithy' as well, particularly, who have played a massive part in all three of those. For this group, there's a lot of experience there, a lot of time together, a lot of success," Starc told the ICC.

We're very quickly onto the Ashes which starts on Friday: Starc

With the first Test at Edgbaston beginning on June 16, Australia are going to turn their focus to the Ashes series against their arch-rivals, England. "We'll enjoy this moment as a group, players and staff have really contributed massively to this. But we're very quickly onto the Ashes which again starts on Friday,” Starc added further.

With 88 wickets from 20 Test matches, Nathan Lyon was by far the most destructive bowler during the WTC 2021–23 cycle, easily outpacing the next-best Kagiso Rabada of South Africa, who had 67. Lyon will now look to shift his attention towards England and the Ashes.