MELBOURNE: Cricket Australia (CA) on Friday, confirmed that off-spinner Nathan Lyon’s participation in the Ashes remainder is in extreme doubt as he suffered a “significant strain” to his right calf which will require a “period of rehabilitation”.
“Nathan Lyon has been diagnosed with a significant calf strain,” a Cricket Australia spokesman said on Friday.
“He will require a period of rehabilitation after this match is concluded. A decision regarding his availability for the remainder of the series will be made at the conclusion of the game.”
Earlier on Friday, veteran off-spinner arrived at the Lord’s on crutches for the third day of the ongoing second Ashes Test.
Nathan Lyon, who limped off the field from the second session on Thursday after sustaining a calf injury while fielding, looked distraught as he got medical attention on the boundary while his teammate Steve Smith hinted the off-spinner could be out of action for “a while”.
The incident happened after Nathan Lyon was spotted hobbling out with the physio in the 37th over of England’s innings briefly after completing his spell. Lyon appeared to be in obvious distress as he chased a ball to the fence and was promptly taken off from the field.
Nathan Lyon required crutches to join his teammates at Lord’s on Friday morning, as he limped into the ground’s iconic pavilion. His right calf was also covered in a bandage, with Australia expected to give an update on his fitness shortly.
The off-spinner had incidentally become just the sixth player, and the first-ever bowler, to play 100 consecutive Tests in the same match on Wednesday.
“That’s something I’m really proud of. To be able to tick off 100 consecutive Test matches, that’s a proper stat in my head,” Nathan Lyon had said ahead of the Test. “That’s a lot of Test cricket, a lot of ups and downs. No wonder I’ve got no hair.”
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