Australia's star bowler Nathan Lyon has been ruled out of the remaining three games of this year's Ashes with a significant calf tear.
Lyon had been fielding on day two of the second test at Lord's when he suffered the significant injury. Despite arriving to the ground on crutches, he was remarkably sent out to bat on Saturday afternoon, with the 35-year-old scoring four runs before being caught by Ben Stokes.
That was part of a 15-run partnership with an unbeaten Mitchell Starc, though Australia were able to bowl England all out to win by 43 runs on Sunday. Cricket Australia have confirmed that Todd Murphy will replace Lyon for the third test at Headingley.
Murphy has been working closely with Lyon as he prepares to take over as Australia's chief spinner. And Lyon has seen enough to be convinced that the 22-year-old is ready for his moment in the Ashes spotlight.
“His stock ball is good enough in international cricket. We have seen that in India in arguably the hardest place to bowl spin,” Lyon told Cricket Australia’s official website.
“It will be a different challenge with the England batters. If they do come at him, it provides Todd with a decent challenge. But a chance to leave his footmarks here in England. It is a big Ashes series, he is excited by the opportunity.
“I sat with Todd in the last session there (on day four) and spoke about spin bowling as we do. I have a lot of confidence in Todd. He is a great kid. He is willing to learn along the way. I have told him my phone is always on, it doesn’t matter if I am sitting in the changeroom with him or I am sitting at home watching it in bed.”
Lyon had been attempting to catch out Ben Duckett, running in from the square leg boundary on Thursday to field a ball, but was immediately left in pain and was carried off the pitch. Murphy is expected to come straight into the starting line-up, with head coach Andrew McDonald welcoming the arrival of the spinner.
"As you saw (on Sunday), at certain times, we had to do it differently without Nathan Lyon down the other end, which we've been so used to," he said. "At times it looked a little bit chaotic so we do like to have that spin option."
Australia were forced to play a man down with Lyon on crutches, with cricket's rules stating substitutes are only allowed in cases of concussion or a positive Covid-19 test. But Lyon hit back at suggestions he had gone out to bat merely to try to get hit on the head.
“I have heard comments that people thought I went out there to get hit in the head and I’m really against that because I’ve lost one of my mates due to being hit in the head,” he said. “I think that’s a really poor excuse or conversation being had, if I’m being honest with you.
“Injuries are part of the game unfortunately, and I’m now experiencing that but no, I don’t think [substitutes should be allowed] for soft-tissue injuries or anything like that.. But for Covid or concussion, yeah, definitely because that’s obviously a pretty big risk. So I’m happy for that. But any other injuries? No. That’s my opinion.”
Australia will retain the Ashes if they hold England to a draw in Yorkshire this week, with the hosts having never come back from a 2-0 deficit to win the famous series. In fact, it has been 86 years since Australia last did so, though Lyon's injury will be a boost to Ben Stokes' side.
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