‘English taunts won’t make Australia cry’

MELBOURNE: Australia’s cricketers will just have to bear English taunts over the ball-tampering affair on tour next month for the One-day International (ODI) series, spinner Nathan Lyon has said.

Australia will bring a new-look squad led by Test captain Tim Paine for the five-match series, with former skipper Steve Smith and vice-captain David Warner suspended for their parts in the scandal in South Africa.

Offspinner Lyon, who was recalled to the ODI squad for the first time since 2016, said he expected England fans to take full advantage of recent events.“I’ve never played in England where they haven’t given it to us,” Lyon told reporters on Tuesday.

“There’s no point taking some tissues out with us, we’ve just got to stand out there and cop it.”The series will be Australia’s first since the ill-fated tour of South Africa, where the scandal-plagued visitors slumped to a 3-1 loss.

The tampering case resulted in year-long bans to Smith and Warner, with batsman Cameron Bancroft suspended for nine months.Head coach Darren Lehmann, who was cleared of wrongdoing, resigned and was replaced last week by Justin Langer.

The damage to Australia’s reputation was far-reaching, with local fans disgusted and a major sponsor abruptly ending its support of the team.Cricket Australia has launched reviews into the players’ behaviour and its own operations, and Lyon said he hoped the England tour could be a fresh start.

“It’s a good chance for Australian cricket to move on and a good chance for Australian players to rebuild the trust and faith of the Australian public and earn back their respect,” added Lyon, echoing comments from Langer’s first media conference as coach last week.