On the second day of the Lord’s Ashes Test, just after tea, Nathan Lyon was assisted off the pitch with what appeared to be a calf injury. The great offspinner pulled up sore after trying a catch at fine-leg and didn’t participate in the rest of the day’s play, giving the visitors a reason to believe that he won’t play in the remaining games of this series.
Ironically, Lyon has won 100 consecutive games for Australia, demonstrating his tenacity and resilience throughout the years.
Although I haven’t yet entered the sheds, it was evident that things didn’t seem good. Steve Smith informed reporters at the conclusion of the day’s play, “It doesn’t look great for the rest of the game. I’m unsure about his current condition. But if he’s not any good, it’s definitely a major loss for us.
“He’s playing in his 100th straight Test match, which I know he was eager to take part in and contribute to as well. It didn’t seem promising, but fingers crossed that he’s okay.
Throwbacks were made to the 2005 Ashes series, when Glenn McGrath injured his ankle prior to the start of the second Ashes Test in Birmingham, a match that England won to tie the series before winning again in Nottingham to win it. Steve Smith also brought up his concussion from the previous year, which prevented him from playing in the memorable Leeds Test, which England won in thrilling fashion to tie the series.
Smith reflected on his absence from the Headingley Test four years ago and remarked, “For batters, I think there are tons of us around, so it’s a bit different. “It’s not ideal, especially with your spinner. But Nathan would be a great loss if he weren’t any good.
Pat Cummins went to Travis Head in the absence of Lyon, who was in the middle of a spell when he sustained the injury and was able to get five efficient overs from the part-timer. However, the visitors might be compelled to call up Todd Murphy into the starting XI if overnight scans and assessments showed that Lyon would need to sit out for a longer amount of time. The 22-year-old Victorian, who earlier this year had a game-changing debut series in India, has kept up his form and rhythm in the nets, according to Smith.
The way that Lyon’s injury affects this delicately poised Test over the next three days may also have additional repercussions. Australia used a short-ball tactic from their fast bowlers, and this would be especially difficult if there wasn’t a holding offspinner bowling from one end while the quicks rotated from the other.
It’s a genuine shame, and I hope it doesn’t turn out too badly for him. You never want to witness someone suffer an injury. Ben Duckett, who was two runs shy of a century due to the short ball, said, “We all wish him the best. “He’s such a fantastic bowler; he was going to play a huge part in the fourth innings. It will be intriguing to observe their strategy.
“I think they’ll be quite exhausted by the end of it if they keep bowling bumpers with all four bowlers, especially with back-to-back Tests,” said the bowler. Travis bowled well tonight, so perhaps he will do so again.
