Australia’s off-spinner Nathan Lyon has been ruled out of the ongoing Ashes series against England due to a calf injury sustained during the second Test at Lord’s.
The 35-year-old, who boasts 496 Test wickets, suffered the injury on the second day of the match, leading to his absence for the remaining three Tests.
Australia has confirmed that Lyon has a “sig-nificant calf tear,” resulting in his exclusion from the squad. In addition to Lyon, batter Matthew Renshaw has also been omitted from the Australian squad.
Australia currently holds a 2-0 lead in the Ashes series, following their victories by 43 runs at Lord’s and by two wickets in the first Test at Edgbaston. With Lyon unavailable, the team is considering spinner Todd Murphy as a potential replacement for the third Test at Headingley, commencing on Thursday.
Murphy, a 22-year-old who impressed with 14 wickets during Australia’s tour of India earlier this year, has limited first-class experience but has shown promise at the international level. Coach Andrew McDonald acknowledged the challenge of playing without Lyon but expressed confidence in Murphy’s abilities.
Nathan Lyon played a crucial role in Australia’s triumph at Edgbaston, where he claimed eight wick-ets. The off-spinner reached a milestone by taking his 496th Test wicket, dismissing opener Zak Crawley during the second Test at Lord’s.
Unfortunately, Lyon suffered his calf injury on the second day of that match while attempting to field a ball. Despite the setback, Lyon showed determina-tion by batting for his team on the fourth day, scoring four runs. Lyon remains optimistic, considering the injury as a minor setback rather than a career-defining moment. It is uncertain whether he will stay in England for rehabilitation or return home.
Losing Nathan Lyon is undoubtedly a blow to Australia’s Ashes campaign, as his spin-bowling prowess and experience have played a crucial role in the team’s success. The right-arm spinner also became only the sixth Test cricketer to play 100 consecutive Test matches.
However, the Australian camp remains hopeful that Todd Murphy can step up to the challenge and make his mark in the series against England. As the Ashes battle intensifies, both teams will have to adapt their strategies in the absence of key players, adding further intrigue to this historic cricket rivalry.—AFP
