Australian selectors preferred left-armer Xavier Doherty alongside allrounder Glenn Maxwell in their 15-man squad for the one-day cricket extravaganza, a decision that raised some eyebrows given Lyon had just finished as the leading wicket-taker in Australia's Test series win over India.

If Lyon was the loser in that scenario the winners were the Sydney Sixers, who take on Perth Scorchers in the BBL final in Canberra and have welcomed the availability of the 27-year-old in the run-up to the decider, particularly given several of their other Test players are busy on Australian duty.

With six wickets in three games he has anything but simply gone through the motions despite his World Cup omission, playing a key role in the Sixers' trip to the final and reminding the Australian hierarchy what they're missing out on.

While Lyon was told he missed out because he spins the ball the same way as Maxwell, there was an indication from national selector Rod Marsh that updated rules restricting the number of fieldsmen outside the circle meant bowlers like the Test off-spinner weren't suited to one-day cricket.

"I saw that explanation in the media," Lyon said. "I'm not really sure where they're going at with that, but in saying that the challenge for me was to come out in the Big Bash, and if I'm around for any of the Matador Cup this year, is to bowl well with the white ball.

"Hopefully I can just keep putting my hand up for selection. They've picked the World Cup squad. I'll be supporting the boys and hopefully they can bring the World Cup home."

In the meantime Lyon will return to the red ball for NSW in the Sheffield Shield. With the white ball, however, he is challenging the school of thought that attacking spinners can also prosper in the limited-overs game here, rather than simply contain.

"I still try and bowl my way and try and give the ball a bit of flight," he said. "The good thing about Big Bash is the spinner comes on and everyone thinks they can whack it out of the park. You know they're coming after you and that's the best thing about Big Bash - you're always in a fight, there are no easy overs at all.

"I feel like I can bowl well in all three formats and that's my goal - I want to be the Australian spinner in all three formats. I've just got to come out here with the Sixers and keep bowling well and keep enjoying my cricket and all that other stuff will take care of itself.

"They just simply said that they wanted to spin the ball away from the bat. They already had Glenn Maxwell who spins it in. I understand that."

The BBL final will be held at a sold-out Manuka Oval, where Lyon spent four years working as a groundsman under curator Brad van Dam.

If the scoreline from the match there between the Prime Minister's XI and England a fortnight ago is any indication - 722 runs were pummelled in less than 100 overs - then there should be no shortage of runs on Wednesday.

"I imagine Brad is going to produce a pretty bat-friendly pitch and I dare say there will be a decent crowd there," Lyon said. "The Scorchers have probably been the No.1 team over the last four years or so, so it's a good challenge for us.