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Cricket Australia has confirmed that Australian spin legend Nathan Lyon’s participation in the remainder of the Ashes series against England is highly uncertain. This happened after Lyon suffered a “significant strain” in his shin, requiring a “rehabilitation period” to recover.
Lyon did not take the field on the third day of the second Ashes Test at Lord’s. He reached the ground with the help of crutches, wearing a white compression stocking on his right shin. He joined his teammates midway through the pre-play address. According to cricket.com.au, he injured his right calf while fielding on the second day of the game and immediately left the field.
Medical scans on Thursday evening confirmed the injury. Although Australia may still use him with the bat during this match, the 36-year-old is unlikely to bowl in the remainder of the series.
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Lyon spent Friday morning talking to spin back-up Todd Murphy, a four-Test veteran right-arm spinner. Lyon’s absence will undoubtedly be a big blow for Australia as they will have to rely on the inexperienced Murphy and part-time spin back-up Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith.
After a solid start against India in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy earlier this year, Murphy looks almost certain to feature in the third Test at Headingley next week.
The Lord’s Test was special for Lyon as he was playing his 100th consecutive Test and is just four wickets away from 500 Test wickets. He may not be able to reach the figure of 500 during this series.
Australia will finalize its decision on Lyon’s availability in the series after the Lord’s Test is over, but have not confirmed the grading for his strain other than describing it as “significant”.
Rehabilitation seems highly likely to take a few weeks. Mitchell Swepson and Matthew Kuhnman are also the main contenders to replace Lyon in the team. In Lyon’s absence, Head’s well-paced off-breaks will have to work really well for the Aussies. He was in discussion with Australian spin coach and former New Zealand great Daniel Vettori ahead of the day’s play. Smith and Labushen were also practicing for bowling. There may also be an increase in the workload of all-rounder Cameron Green.
