Ashes 2021: Australia eyeing 5-0 whitewash keeping WTC in mind - Nathan Lyon

Australia have already emerged victorious in the Ashes 2021 series. However, the appetite for wins has not gone away, as off-spinner Nathan Lyon recently revealed.

The 34-year-old says the target for the series is a 5-0 whitewash over England. Aside from the fact that it would represent a massive win over their eternal rivals, it will also aid their cause in the World Test Championship.

“I’ve never ever considered (a match) dead-rubber when you wear the baggy green and go out and represent Australia in a Test match,” Lyon told reporters.

“So there’s no dead-rubbers. Firstly because it’s (the) Test championship, but another one, we want to go five-nil up.

“Obviously Ashes for me is the pinnacle, but I’d love to be part of the Test championship final, whether that’s at Lord’s or wherever it may be in the world. A lot of work to do to get there.”

It is worth noting that Australia only narrowly missed out on making the final last year. India and New Zealand pipped them to the top spots, with the Kiwis winning the inaugural crown.

However, as things stand, it is Australia who lead the WTC table. And a 5-0 win would give them a healthy lead atop the standings.

But while England have looked out of sorts all through the series, Lyon is not willing to write off a side he described as ‘world-class’.

Can Joe Root get going in Ashes 2021?

And the team is wary of no one moreso than England skipper Joe Root, who’s had a puzzling series up until this point.

He is the leading run-scorer in the series, but hasn’t scored a ton. And there are plenty of question marks over his future as captain of the Test side.

Lyon said he would like to ensure Root doesn’t get going, describing the opposition captain as a ‘world-class’ player.

“He has not scored a century but he’s got off to some decent starts and he’s made some decent scores,” Lyon said.

“Our job is to try and restrict, and try and remove each and every batter that comes out there … and I think we’ve been doing a really good job in that at the moment.

I don’t want to rest on our heels or anything like that. We want to get better … and try and put Joe under a lot more pressure when he first comes to the crease so he doesn’t get a start.

“But at the end of the day, he’s a world class player.”

The second Test will get underway on Wednesday (January 5).