Aussie cricket star reveals self-imposed nine-month 'ban' after career setback

Nathan Lyon has claimed he is in arguably the best shape of his cricket career after close to nine months off as he made a statement in the first Test between Australia and South Africa . Lyon tore his hamstring in the Ashes series last year, which saw him miss months of cricket as he recovered from the setback. He was then left out of two Test matches as selectors looked to the quicks, which left plenty of speculation around Lyon's career. There were suggestions the 38-year-old could call it soon after spending so much time on the sideline. Although Lyon admitted he gave up alcohol for a while and went on a rigorous fitness schedule to be fit for his return. And Lyon has put his hand up in the first Test in Durban having taken two wickets to help Australia take a huge first innings lead on Sunday. Lyon finished with 2-58 with South Africa all out for 284. The spinner is feeling confident he can continue for a while longer, which could even take him through to next year's Ashes series. "I'm probably in the best shape of my career," he said after Day 3. "The amount of work that I've put in, I've never had any doubt that I'll get back. "I haven't had any alcohol for a fair while now, but I'm just trying to squeeze as much out of the lemon as possible that I can. I still feel like there's a lot of decent cricket ahead of me, that's for sure." Nathan Lyon (pictured) played a pivotal role in Australia's lead in the first Test against South Africa. (Photo by Marco Longari / AFP via Getty Images) Nathan Lyon and teammates set record And the bowling attack created history against South Africa. The bowling quartet of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Lyon reached a combined 600 wicket when bowling together. They were already the first to each take 300 Test match wickets as a bowling quartet. And Lyon admitted it was a great milestone to reach with his teammates. "That's pretty bloody special moment if you ask me," Lyon said. "They're things that I'll look back at when my career is done and look at that and go, that's pretty cool." Australia will need The Aussies will be relying on Lyon in the fourth innings to get more spin out of the Kingsmead surface, which hasn't been as dramatic as first expected. South Africa entered the Test match with two spinners, but the surface is yet to significantly favour the slow bowlers just yet. Although it could favour Lyon in the final innings with Australia looking to score quickly to start Day 4.