Australia is sweating on the fitness of Nathan Lyon after the veteran spinner hobbled off the field with a suspected injury on day five of the Adelaide Ashes Test against England.
Lyon was near the rope when he lunged to prevent a boundary at fine leg, looking pretty ginger as he returned to his feet. The 38-year-old immediately signalled for a team medic and hobbled off the field, occasionally grabbing at his hamstring.
He was later sent for scans.
“How big a moment is this?” former Test wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist said in Fox Cricket commentary.
“Oh no… this is a sorry sight for Australia and more so Nathan Lyon. Perhaps a pivotal moment in what could happen today, he’s walking off the field.”
Cricket Australia confirmed in a statement: “Nathan Lyon is being assessed by medical staff. More information will be forthcoming once fully known.”
Watch The Ashes 2025/26 LIVE and ad-break free during play with FOX CRICKET on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1 >
The incident was reminiscent of Lyon’s calf injury during the 2023 Ashes Test at Lord’s, when he missed the remainder of the series after hurting himself in the outfield. The Australians struggled without their strike tweaker, failing to win a match for the remainder of the tour.
“Your mind goes back to Lord’s where the calf went and you felt like that was a pivotal moment in that series,” Gilchrist continued.
“This is a bad image when he realised what happened.”
Lyon ripped through England’s middle order on Saturday afternoon, taking three wickets to put the Australians within touching distance of victory at Adelaide Oval.
If the New South Welshman was unavailable for next week’s Boxing Day Test at the MCG, it would open the door for either Todd Murphy, Matt Kuhnemann or Corey Rocchiccioli to join the Australian squad.
“We’ve always played with a front-line spinner, who’s next?” Healy said.
“Who are we looking at? Who’s next in-line if need be?”
Former Australian spinner Kerry O’Keeffe: “They take (Matthew) Kuhnemann to the subcontinent, but is he an option on Australian pitches?”
Discussion about this post