Nathan Lyon has reaffirmed his determination to remain an integral part of Australia’s Test plans despite the Australian veteran spinner being ruled out of the Ashes series due to a serious hamstring injury, but hired for its Test-return.
Lyon hurt himself late in the third Test against England in Adelaide while attempting to field a ball. The injury was serious enough to need surgery and the seasoned off – spinner underwent a lengthy rehabilitation period. Yet Lyon, who has spent months in rehab, is confident he will be ready for Australia’s opening Test against Bangladesh in Darwin on August 13.
The 38-year-old has recently returned to bowling spells at Cricket Central in Sydney where he said recovery was going “really well”. Lyon has also taken up road cycling to help keep fit, chalking up over 700 kilometres since he last played competitive cricket while also undergoing rehabilitation. He is set to ramp up his workload again at training camps in Queensland over the next week, with the hope of bowling to batters before he plays competing again.
The condition of Lyon after this- The Australian coaching and medical staffs are satisfied with Lyon’s progress. Head of physical performance coach Ross Herridge said a hamstring niggle experienced by the spinner was especially difficult as the hamstring is put under so much stress. But Lyon has hit every recovery target along the way and is still on track to make his hoped-for return.
Lyon is second on the all-time wicket-takers list for Australia with 567 Test wickets – trailing only Shane Warne in that regard. With a full international calendar in the next year, he has an opportunity to inch closer to the 600-wicket mark that just a few have reached in Test cricket history.
And even after recent comments by selectors and team management pledging to pick players with the 2027 World Cup in mind, Lyon insisted he would “never retire” from the national side. He confirmed chats with chief selector George Bailey and head coach Andrew MC Donald, but reiterated that his focus had not changed.
Lyon’s insistence that he wouldn’t be bothered repairing his body to the levels he needs unless he believed he still had something left at the top level made it clear he’s looking to return. With a relentless approach, he is hell bent on making himself available for all Test matches and perhaps to pay a tribute that his enthusiasm is far from waning.