Lyon injured as England fight back into Lord’s Test
Nathan Lyon is in doubt for the rest of the Ashes after the star spinner suffered a serious-looking calf injury on a disastrous day for Australia at Lord’s.
England went to stumps on day two at 4-278 in reply to Australia’s first-innings 416, with the game back in the balance after the hosts threw away three last-session wickets.
Australia’s Nathan Lyon is helped off the pitch at Lord’s after suffering an injury. AP
Friday morning now looms as critical, not only in the fight for a first-innings lead but as Australia await a clearer prognosis on Lyon’s right leg.
The 36-year-old pulled up short when charging in to attempt a catch at deep backward square, immediately clutching at his calf afterwards and limping from the field.
The injury is likely to leave Australia without a frontline spinner for the rest of the match, with first-innings centurion Steve Smith and Travis Head sharing duties in the evening.
Beyond that, Todd Murphy is in Australia’s squad for the series and would shape as the man called upon if Lyon is ruled out of the third Test at Headingley, starting next Thursday.
Such has been Lyon’s longevity, with the Lord’s Test his 100th in a row, Australia have not been forced to call on another tweaker to be chief spinner since 2013.
“Obviously, it didn’t look good,” Smith said.
“It doesn’t look ideal for the rest of the game. But yeah, I’m not sure how he actually is. But, you know, obviously if he’s no good, it’s a big loss for us.
“He’s in his 100th consecutive Test match, which I know he was really looking forward to taking part in and having a role in as well.”
Lyon’s injury came after he took the sole wicket in England’s innings until that point, outsmarting Zak Crawley on 48 and having him stumped down
Read more on afr.com
