Australia spinner Nathan Lyon defended team-mate and pace spearhead Mitchell Starc, who has come under fire from a number of former cricketers for his performance, labelling criticism as 'unfair.'

'I am a little surprised with the magnitude of the criticism that has come to him. I do not understand all the criticism, to be honest. Mitch is one of my best mates and I back him to the hilt. As I have said in press conferences before, if you want to take my gear and go face him in the nets, go for it," ICC quoted Lyon, as saying ahead of the second Test against Sri Lanka.