Lyon reluctant to sing own praises as 'unsung hero of Ashes win'

For someone who waited nearly 12 months to warm up the vocal chords for Australia's victory song, Nathan Lyon is surprisingly reluctant to sing his own praises, according to reports.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the off-spinner modestly downplayed his personal victory over England spinner Graeme Swann as one of the decisive points of Australia's Ashes win.

The 26-year-old was handed the honour of leading Under the Southern Cross I Stand by Michael Hussey, the Australian team song, when he retired earlier this year, the report said.

After winless series in India and England, he has been getting accustomed to singing it as Australia took an unassailable 3-0 series lead in the Ashes and he says he wants to belt it out two more times before the summer is over, the report added.

He said that it was just great to contribute as a team member in an Ashes victory but even if he is taking no wickets and Mitchell Johnson and Ryan Harris are taking all the wickets, he is still happy.

He added that when the players are out there, they bowl in partnerships and it is a team game.