Nathan Lyon finds unlikely ally after Ashes disaster

Nathan Lyon has received support from an unexpected English source regarding the prospect of mental demons as Australia rally around their offspinner after the third Ashes Test.

Lyon, now in the middle of an online slanging match between Shane Warne and Matt Prior, was a perfect example of the fickle nature of Test cricket at Headingley on Sunday.

The tweaker claimed the key scalp of Joe Root to overhaul Dennis Lillee and take third spot on Australia's list of all-time leading Test wicket-takers.

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However, Lyon's contribution to the spectacle that will be replayed the most is a missed run-out that could have snatched a one-run win and retained the urn.

The most experienced member of Australia's Test squad inexplicably fumbled a simple return from Pat Cummins at the non-striker's end.

Lyon then struck Ben Stokes on the pad with his next delivery but umpire Joel Wilson turned down his lbw appeal.

Ball-tracking replays revealed the decision would have been overturned on review but Tim Paine had already wasted both referrals.

"I don't think so," Jimmy Anderson said on his Tailenders podcast, when asked if Lyon would be haunted by his mistake in the fourth Test.

"It'll be playing on his mind today and the next few days but with a week between (Tests), he'll be hoping he forgets about it.

"Once you get into a fresh Test match, you focus on that and try to forget about everything else.

"Amazing what pressure does ... 99 out of 100 times he'd take that cleanly and take the bails off."

Pat Cummins takes blame for Lyon error

Cummins attempted to take some of the blame for the missed chance.

"I probably didn't help him out with the throw," Australia's vice-captain said.

"You just want to win so desperately and the emotion gets to everyone slightly differently.

"We've got to get around him but I think the next ball he bowled after that was three reds, so on another day he's the match-winner. It's that fine line."

Tim Paine literally picked Lyon up off the turf when Stokes hit the winning runs, such was the veteran's despair.

Former captain Ricky Ponting has urged Lyon's teammates to lift his spirits.

"We've all had moments like that, where you've dropped a catch or missed a run out or played a bad shot at the wrong time," Ponting told cricket.com.au.

"You do feel bad about it for a while."

Meanwhile, Warne lashed Prior on Twitter for "silly and immature behaviour" and urged him to grow up in response to "stupid comments" the former England keeper made about Lyon.