Australia’s premium spinner Nathan Lyon has missed the adrenaline rush of Test cricket while he was away from the game owing to the pandemic but said the break has rekindled his desire to go beyond 500 wickets in the format.

Lyon, who is just four games short of playing 100 Tests, has captured 390 wickets so far, the most by any Australian off-spinner. “I still feel I’m getting better and still feel like I’ve got a lot of cricket to offer Cricket Australia,” Lyon, who turns 33 on Friday, said. “Definitely 500 and beyond is on my radar.”

Lyon will become just the 10th player in Australian history to reach 100 Tests, in the fourth and final match against India in Brisbane early next year. The veteran spinner last played a Test in January this year before the pandemic shut down cricket across the globe. He says the break has made him hungrier to perform.

“Probably it has driven my love for the game,” Lyon said. “Without being able to play the game that you love so much and not being able to play that regularly has driven my passion to get out there and that hunger to perform well again.

“The most I’ve missed is that pressure that comes along with playing Test cricket. Missing that adrenaline.” Lyon has snapped nine wickets in three games for New South Wales this season.

Lyon had earlier said it was disappointing that Kohli will miss the major part of the Test series but was quick to point out the firepower in India’s batting department.

“It’s disappointing for the series. You want to play against the best players in the world,” Lyon said. “I believe he is the best player in the world along with Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne. However, India have still got superstars.”