Oscar Piastri, Australia's lone Formula One driver, sped into the home of cricket on Monday, invited to have a bit of fun at the end of practice by the national team before Wednesday's second Ashes Test.
And McLaren's rookie demonstrated that he packs a punch with the bat as he took on first-Test hero Lyon, having been loaned the spinner's batting gear, and caught hold of a real beauty aimed over mid-wicket.
"Yeah, he hit it pretty well - I'll give it to him," said an impressed Lyon, when one onlooker suggested it would have been a six if it hadn't ballooned into the nets.
"Well played!"
He also liked the look of Piastri's forward defensive, laughing: "He's almost got a better defence than a Pom ... am I allowed to say that?"
London-based Piastri, who was enjoying a free day before flying off for the Austrian Grand Prix, also faced a few - thankfully gentle - deliveries from Mitchell Starc, and also looked to have some pace himself as he hurled down an over at Marnus Labuschagne.
"It's been great to watch them and I was lucky enough to face a few balls from Mitch and Nathan. It's been a really cool day watching these guys at the top of their game," Piastri told Sky Sports.
"The Astroturf's not exactly favourable for Gaz's spin and Mitch was coming in on half-a-step, I reckon. But very, very cool to have those guys coming at you; normally, I'd be terrified!"
Piastri, who recently posted on Instagram a photo of himself as a wide-eyed six-year-old gazing admiringly at his childhood hero Ricky Ponting, was also thrilled to meet the former captain at the Aussie practice.
"It's been a full circle moment in some ways. It was nice to see him again and actually be able to speak to him and not just be in awe of him. It's been very special."
Piastri says he returned just in time from the Canadian Grand Prix to see the thrilling conclusion to the first Test after regularly checking the scores over race weekend.
"I was able to watch it in all its glory, pretty nerve-wracking few hours, so glad we got it done," he enthused.
Piastri wasn't the only star visitor hanging around the nets, with the team also meeting up with Geelong's AFL legend Joel Selwood.
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