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Nathan Lyon has boosted his World Cup selection hopes with another tidy ODI display, having proven Australia's most economical bowler against Pakistan.
Nathan Lyon's push for a World Cup berth has gained further momentum in Sharjah, where the off-spinner produced yet another impressive performance in the canary yellow.
Lyon entered the attack after just six overs in the five-match series opener between Australia and Pakistan.
The veteran created the first breakthrough of the innings in his second over, when Imam-ul-Haq offered a simple return catch.
Lyon could've had centurion Haris Sohail out edging with his next delivery but the ball fell safe, while a dropped catch from Peter Handscomb denied him the scalp of Umar Akmal.
The tweaker, who missed training on Tuesday with the flu, recorded figures of 1-38 to finish Australia's most economical bowler for the second match in a row.
Lyon snared 1-34 in Delhi last week, when he was recalled for the series decider against India and exhibited the sort of composure that underlined why he is tracking towards World Cup selection.
"Imam has been in really good form so for Nathan to get him out early was a real positive," Aaron Finch said.
"The overs (Glenn) Maxwell and Lyon bowled in that powerplay were crucial."
Lyon has played 21 ODIs since debuting in 2012, with selectors generally regarding him as a Test specialist.
Former chairman of selectors Rod Marsh memorably explained in 2015 that Lyon was "bowling that well in Test match cricket, it almost seems a shame for him to perhaps lose any of that by perhaps copping a hiding every now and then in one-day cricket".
But coach Justin Langer has shown a willingness to back Australia's most prolific Test off-spinner in the 50-over format, suggesting Lyon and Adam Zampa could both be part of the World Cup squad.
Chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns recently agreed with the notion.
"Most teams around the world seem to be including one, at least, and probably two spinners in their World Cup squad," Hohns said.
"We can't bury our heads in the sand and just say we're going with fast bowlers."
