Cricket News : Tim made a mistake..don't see it as Ashes distraction- Lyon on Tim Paine saga

Cricket News :- 

Australian bowler Nathan Lyon has dismissed suggestion from ex-captain Ricky Ponting that the Tim Paine saga could inevitably be a Ashes distraction.

Lyon said on Thursday from Gold Coast, "Tim (Paine) made a mistake a few years ago, and he showed a lot of courage and he has owned that mistake. He's got my full support and 100 percent guarantee he's got the full support of Australian change room. So I don't I don't see it as a distraction at all."

Tim Paine quit as captain last week in the wake of a 'sexting' scandal that shocked many in the Australian team.

Lyon believes Paine should be included in the Ashes team to play England in the first Test at Gabba as he is the "best wicket keeper in the world".

The off-spinner also said he has no preference over the two current favourites shorlisted for the captaincy job - current vice-captain Pat Cummins and former captain Steve Smith.

Lyon explained that both Cummins and Smith have been spoken to individually by Cricket Australia and a decision on who will lead Australia for the Ashes will be announced in the coming days.

The Ashes start at the Gabba in Brisbane on the 8th of December. The visiting England side have, however, lost valubale match practice time as their intra-squad game was washed out with no play possible on the second and third days.