'Surprised' Lyon says Oz does not need 50,000-dollar 'windfall' to win Ashes

Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon has said that he had no knowledge of the 50,000-dollar incentive which he and other Australian Test players stand to pocket at the conclusion of the Ashes series and added that he and his teammates do not play for money.

Australian Test players will receive a 5000-dollar bonus for each Test victory they play in during the Ashes and each will also pocket 23,334 dollars for the series win, with the players already receiving a match fee of 14,000 dollars on top of their retainers regardless of the result.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Lyon expressed surprise at the windfall and said that the squad does not any additional incentive to win back the Ashes as they play for winning as a team and winning for the country.

Lyon, who has been an integral part of the Australian squad which holds a 4-0 series lead on the English, bought up his 100th Test wicket in the Boxing Day Test, the report added.