PEARS paceman John Hastings has backed his fellow Aussie Nathan Lyon to adapt to English conditions and be a success for Worcestershire.
Lyon only arrived last Monday at New Road from Australia and made his debut 24 hours later in the Royal London One-Day tie with Derbyshire in Derby.
He then became the 503rd player to represent Worcestershire in the County Championship, also at the 3aaa County Ground, and took two wickets as the Pears recorded their fifth straight win in the competition in a run dating back to last season.
Hastings, who is preparing for Australia’s ICC Champions Trophy campaign, said: “How good a player is Nathan Lyon? He is very good.
“When Bumpy (director of cricket Steve Rhodes) said did I know anyone to stand in for me, I very much put forward Nathan Lyon.
“He is a great character around the dressing room, and that is very important, but he is statistically Australia’s greatest finger spinner.
“For me, he can bowl on any surface, anywhere in the world, and it doesn’t take him long to adapt.”
Hastings will be away from Worcester with the Australia squad for the duration of their involvement in the Champions Trophy but has no doubt about his compatriot.
“He will fit in really well here, he’s a really good man, he works really hard – and he wants to win,” Hastings said.
“That is probably the most important thing, just having someone that can carry on that winning mentality.”