Australia head coach Andrew McDonald spoke about the injury to veteran off-spinner Nathan Lyon ahead of the Boxing Day Test against England during the ongoing Ashes 2025-26 series. McDonald said Lyon is determined to return to the Australian cricket team after hamstring surgery.
Lyon suffered a hamstring injury on the last day of the Adelaide Ashes Test against England. The experienced spinner injured himself while stretching near the boundary at fine leg to stop a four. After receiving medical attention, Lyon left the field with a strained hamstring and was ruled out of the remainder of the series.
He’s Very Scattered – Andrew McDonald on Nathan Lyon
Nathan Lyon remains a key part of Australia’s plans despite concerns over his future. Andrew McDonald said that the spinner is extremely disappointed but is eager to return.
Following the surgery, Lyon is still expected to remain with the Australian team during the fourth Ashes Test, which is scheduled to begin in Melbourne on Friday, December 26. Lyon had suffered a calf problem which ruled him out of the 2023 Ashes in England.
“He’s pretty devastated,” McDonald told cricket.com.au late on Tuesday. “He’s a big part of what we do.” He faces a long recovery timeline. Because of that type of injury, it will be a difficult period for him to get back to where he was. “But he still wants to do it and that’s the main thing.”
India is on the horizon, he will be an important part of it – Andrew McDonald
Australia’s Test schedule gives Nathan Lyon time to recover without rushing his return. After the final Ashes Tests in Melbourne and Sydney, Australia will not play another series until mid-2026, when they travel to Bangladesh.
Australia are set to face New Zealand and South Africa before a challenging five-Test tour of India in early 2027, followed by the 150th anniversary Test against England. McDonald said the focus is on completing Lyon’s rehabilitation and getting ready for those major tasks.
“India is on the horizon, he’ll be a key part of that,” McDonald said of Lyon. “We’ve got New Zealand (and) South Africa before that. So, go through this rehab and then (we’ll) look ahead.”
Nathan Lyon was replaced by Todd Murphy for the final two Tests.
Nathan Lyon has been an important part of Australia’s Test team for many years. He has played 141 Tests, including 100 consecutive matches, between 2013 and 2023. Australia used two spinners in some matches in the subcontinent, but Lyon remained the first-choice spinner on home soil.
Leone has also told about his future plans. He has said many times that he wants to tour India and England along with Australia in 2027. By then he will be close to 40 years of age, but he is still keen to keep playing.
Following Lyon’s exclusion, Australia have selected Todd Murphy as the main spin option for the fourth Ashes Test in Melbourne. The 25-year-old was preferred over Matthew Kuhnman, Corey Roccioli and Mitchell Swepson.
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