Lyon hobbled to a stop in a field on the second day of the Lord's trial. Image Credit & Copyright: Getty Images/Ian Kington
Australia has confirmed that Nathan Lyon has a significant calf sprain and will need a period of rehabilitation after the Lord's trial is over.
This news is a huge blow to Ash tourists and makes it highly unlikely that Lyon will compete again in this test. On the second day, he pulled himself up, grabbing his leg, and was helped off the field. On the morning of the third day, Lyon arrived in Lords on crutches.
Lyon is unlikely to even win the rest of the Lord's Test Credit: GETTY IMAGES/Ryan Pearce
Australia has confirmed that “a decision on his availability for the remainder of the series will be made at the conclusion of the game” – effectively meaning he is unlikely Lee will perform again in the 2023 Ashes and add nine wickets to his tally. .
Theoretically, Lyon could win in the second inning of Australia.
In the absence of Lyon, who are playing their 100th Test in a row and taking 495 Test wickets, Australia will rely on their three main fast bowlers backed by the all-rounder Cameron Green and part-time Travis Head, Steve Smith and Marnus Labouchagne.
< p>Australian substitute on the test team is Todd Murphy, another offlaner. Murphy played alongside Lyon during Australia's recent Test series in India, taking 14 wickets at 25.21 each in four Tests in a very encouraging debut. Murphy, 22, has only made 12 first-class appearances and is sure to be the target of an England attack.
Australia vice-captain Steve Smith strongly suggested on Thursday night that Lyon would not make an appearance. the rest of the game.
“Obviously it didn't look good,” Smith said. “It's not ideal, especially your spin bowler, one player with one role. There are many of us around.”
Nathan Lyon from Australia (right) treated a calf injury Credit: PA/Adam Davy
No substitution of injuries is allowed in Test cricket, with the exception of a concussion, which means Australia cannot replace Lyon until the end of the Test.
Sir Geoffrey Boycott told Telegraph Sport that Lyon's injury would have serious implications for the show.
“Missing him is hard,” Boycott said. “This incident could decide Ash's fate. This is a huge blow for Australia.”
If Australia doesn't want to choose Murphy for the third Test at Headingley starting next Thursday, the alternative could be to choose four tailor specialists, remembering Scott Boland, or bring in Michael Neser.
Another injury problem for Australia related to the fact that skipper Pat Cummins also spent time off the field after hitting his face on the edge of the square while Lorde was diving to save the ball. Cummins subsequently returned to the field.
Pat Cummins' black eye after diving for the ball in the field. Credit: Getty Images/Gareth Copley Telegraph Sports analysis Nathan Lyon's injury could be Glenn McGrath's moment
Is Nathan Lyon's injury Ash's 2023 version of Glenn McGrath stepping on a cricket ball in 2005? England fans shouldn't be deceived into thinking it's that simple. However, when Nathan Lyon reached for his right shin after coming out of a deep rear straight leg and then walked away, wincing, it was a moment whose aftermath could only be fully seen at the end of the series.
Cricket is almost unique to handicapped teams in that it does not allow the replacement of players who are injured in the middle of a match, a hurdle that multiplies over the course of a five-day test match. Indeed, Australia can reflect on curiosity. If he had a concussion like Steve Smith from Jofra Archer in this test four years ago, and Jack Leach when he dived through the rope against New Zealand at last year's Lord's tournament, Australia could have called Todd Murphy, Lion's backup, as a mid-match substitute. Instead, Australia is left to play the rest of the Test with essentially 10 men: Lyon may – just – be able to bat with a runner, but won't play again. It is undeniable that he became the first bowler to play 100 Test matches in a row, a reflection of his importance to Australia after being expelled from England a decade ago.
As Lyon plodded on, cricket betting traders concluded that Australia's chances of winning had dropped by about 6%. Losing a bowler early in the first innings is one of the biggest hurdles a Test side can face, as England realized when James Anderson bowled four overs in the 2019 Ashes; The effect was visible when the exhausted attack went down 487-7 in the second inning for Australia. The sight of Travis Head, the locum tenens of the Australian spinner, who lost his takeoff run before his first delivery, highlighted the problem. The day ended with the tandem of Head and Steve Smith: part-time from both ends.
Nathan Lyon is in serious pain down here #lords #Ashes pic.twitter.com/NMIv7R0hD0
— Tris 🐻 (@tris_tusa) June 29, 2023
With England batting last this time, Australia could expect Lyon to have the same impact as their eight wickets at Edgbaston. Indeed, in his 13 overs, he floored Zach Crowley and was noticeably more economical than the rest of the attack.
However, the impact of Lyon's loss goes beyond him not being able to beat him . His absence also means Australia will have to place higher demands on the rest of their front line attack, calling bowlers back for new spells sooner than they'd like. The result is a cocktail that can change the outcome of a test match.
Despite this disruption, there may be little consolation for Australia too. Cameron Green's presence gives Australia an all-rounder they've traditionally lacked and a man who can help Lyon catch up. Compared to most all-around bowlers, who tend to be mid-paced, Green's extra pace and rebound make him stand out as a more dangerous option. But there are concerns about Green's back, and he has only averaged 13 overs per Test in his career. So, even with the insurance he provides, an attack-depleted win would be one of Australia's most cherished away victories.
Apart from this game, Australia has a better chance of beating Lyon. Lyon's performances in this series further confirmed his prowess at orthodox offside play: his ability to beat batsmen both in the air and off the field; his constant changes in pace to pose new questions; and a level-headed temperament that sees England's aggression less as a threat than adds to his deadlock tally, now at 20. But in Australia, perhaps more than at any time before in his career, there is a man well-equipped to fill the role. Lyon. .
Nathan Lyon took three wickets in the first Test at Edgbaston. Photo: Reuters/Paul Childs
Earlier this year in India, Australia took the unusual step of removing two spinners at once. Murphy ridiculed the notion that a 22-year-old scoring player with just seven first-class appearances would be thrilled to bowl in India: he took 14 wickets, averaging 25 apiece, showing great control and emulating Lyon in his ease. switching between over and around gates. Murphy left Australia, sacking Virat Kohli four times. His extra pace, side-spin and variable release angle made him a slightly different threat to Lyon.
To gauge his quality, let's take a look at the rating of the best player in the world today: Ravichandran Ashwin. “Todd Murphy had a sensational debut series,” Ashwin said. “Murphy came here 10 to 50 times better than Nathan Lyon came here on his first test tour.”
Now, instead of tandeming with Lyon, Murphy will have to perform in his place. And while English thoughts may travel back to 2005, Aussies can be comforted by the memories of 2019 and the impact of another stand-in who got a chance due to an injury in Lord: Marnus Labouchagne.
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