N
athan Lyon won’t bowl for the rest of the Second Ashes Test and is a doubt for the remainder of the collection in a significant blow to Australia ’s hopes of retaining the Urn and an enormous enhance for England .
The spinner was pressured off after struggling a “significant calf injury” in the field on day two at Lord’s on Thursday and had to be helped around the boundary edge by Australian medical staff in an incident that immediately evoked memories of Edgbaston 2005, when fast-bowler Glenn McGrath missed the crucial Second Test after rolling his ankle after stepping on a cricket ball ahead of the first day’s play.
Lyon arrived at Lord’s on crutches on Friday morning and while Australia say he could yet bat if absolutely required, the likelihood he will play no further part across the final three days of what, ironically, had been his 100th consecutive Test match.
A Cricket Australia statement confirmed Lyon would “require a period of rehabilitation after this match is concluded” with a decision over his availability for the rest of the series to be delayed until after the game.
There is scheduled to be just a three-day gap before next week’s Third Test at Headingley, where, barring a miraculous recovery, 22-year-old Todd Murphy will be in line for an Ashes debut.
Australia’s temper was lifted by simply the second ball of the morning, nevertheless, as Mitchell Starc struck to take away England captain Ben Stokes with the assistance of a shocking catch from Cameron Green at slip.
Harry Brook added 5 to his in a single day rating of 45, reaching his first Ashes half-century, however then turned the newest England batter to fall for Australia’s short-ball plan as he pulled Starc straight to Pat Cummins to go away the hosts 293 for six, nonetheless 123 runs behind.
Lyon has been an integral a part of Australia’s success over the previous decade, taking extra Test wickets than every other bowler in world cricket since final being recalled to the facet in the course of the 2013 Ashes collection. The 35-year-old claimed a four-fer in every innings of Australia’s slim win within the collection opener at Edgbaston, in addition to enjoying a significant hand alongside Cummins within the chase.
Despite England’s lack of wickets on Friday morning, Lyon’s absence has considerably modified the complexion of the continuing contest. Having gained the toss on day one and elected to bowl, England are as a consequence of bat final and Australia could have been relying on Lyon’s spin to take wickets within the fourth innings on a pitch providing more and more little help to the seamers. Cummins does no less than have a number of part-time spin choices to show to, with Travis Head the more than likely to complement the three frontline seamers and all-rounder Cameron Green, whereas Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne may chip in.
Beyond this week, the burden is anticipated to fall on Murphy, who’s extraordinarily highly-rated in Australia, having made his Test bow on the tour of India earlier this 12 months, taking 14 wickets throughout 4 matches at a mean of 25, together with seven-for-124 on debut in Nagpur. He has not, nevertheless, performed any first-class cricket because the Sheffield Shield ultimate in March and lacks expertise in England, having been pulled out of a deliberate County Championship stint at Durham in a bid to handle his workload.
