Australia will only get better after England win - Nathan Lyon

May 26 (CRICKETNMORE) - Despite beating the world No.1 side on Saturday in their first World Cup warm-up game, Australian spinner Nathan Lyon insists his side have still got plenty of room for improvement.

Australia downed England at the Hampshire Bowl by 12 runs in a dream dress rehearsal for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup that gets underway on Thursday.

Australia have claimed series wins in both India and Pakistan and now beaten England on home soil this year – laying to rest the ghosts of a disappointing 2018 in the ODI format.

And Lyon cannot wait to get started in the tournament proper after Steve Smith's century inspired them past England.

“That was a great warm-up game for both sides,” said Lyon.   

“It was a great opportunity to find out where Australia sit at the moment. England are the No.1 side in the world and the favourites going in.

“So it was a great opportunity for us to see where we sit. There is still a lot of improvement for us which is very exciting.

“The one big thing for us is that we have a very tight group at the moment. We are training our back sides off, we want to get better each day and are having a lot of fun doing it.

“We will make sure we compete against anyone we come up against.”

Although defeated, England remain the red-hot favourites to win it all this summer on home soil according to Lyon.

And in particular Ben Stokes – who Lyon dismissed for 20 as part of his figures of 1-37 from his ten overs – is the man to watch.  

“England are the favourites going into the comp and they deserve to be for the way they have been playing their ODI cricket,” added Lyon.

“I am not going to come here and cause headlines, that’s for sure. We are just going to worry about what we are doing.

“I am playing against some of the best players in the world, and Ben Stokes is one of if not the best all-rounder in the world, especially in white ball cricket.

“I rate Ben extremely highly, he has a superstar’s game and to have those battles out in the field, that is why you play cricket. You want to compete against the best players in the world.

“To do that in the warm-up game is great fun, it’s a good challenge and it really gives me great vision to see where I stand.

“I know there is a lot I need to work on personally.”

ICC