Nathan Lyon has made it abundantly clear that retirement is the last thing on his mind. The seasoned Australian off-spinner, who ranks among the most successful bowlers in Test cricket history, has brushed aside any talk of his international career winding down. As Australia gears up for a busy Test schedule in the coming year, Lyon emphasizes that he’s fully committed to bouncing back from his injury and playing a pivotal role for his team.
At 38 years old and with an impressive tally of 567 Test wickets, he insists that “I need to make sure that I’m performing, doing all the right things. But I’m, hand on heart, set on playing every Test match I’m available for.”
His resolute message comes just ahead of Australia’s home Test series against Bangladesh in August.
Currently, Lyon is on the mend from a significant hamstring injury he sustained during the Ashes Test in Adelaide last December. This injury required surgery and sidelined him for the rest of the season. However, after months of hard work in rehabilitation, he’s back to bowling and feels optimistic about being fit for the opening Test against Bangladesh in Darwin on August 13. With Australia facing a challenging schedule that includes up to 21 Tests over the next year, Lyon’s fitness will be crucial.
Defiant Selection Update
The seasoned spinner has taken a strong stance in response to recent comments from selectors and team management about managing his workload. Chief selector George Bailey and head coach Andrew McDonald have pointed out that, given his age and past injuries, Lyon might not be able to play in every Test. However, Lyon feels that his on-field performances should be the deciding factor for his selection.
Also Read | Women’s T20 World Cup: Five Incidents That Sparked Major Controversies
His recovery routine has included intense gym workouts, road cycling, and gradually increasing his bowling loads. According to the physical performance team at Cricket Australia, he has successfully hit every rehabilitation target so far.
“Set on Playing Every Test Match I’m Available for” – Nathan Lyon
Lyon has made it clear that he’s fully committed, stating “I wouldn’t be doing all this work right now if I didn’t want to play every Test match. I’m addicted to trying to get better every day, so trying to get back to the fitness level (I was at prior to the injury) was never a concern for me.”
The off-spinner continues to be Australia’s top spin choice and is on the verge of hitting another significant career milestone.
With 567 Test wickets to his name, Lyon stands just behind Shane Warne among Australian Test bowlers and needs 33 more to hit the impressive 600 mark. He also mentioned that the thought of retirement has never even crossed his mind. In fact, his drive is stronger than ever. Lyon feels he was bowling at his peak before the injury and is itching to get back to that level. As Australia gears up for a critical series against Bangladesh, South Africa, New Zealand, and the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Lyon has made one thing clear: he’s not ready to hang up his boots just yet.
