Cricket Australia confirmed the news on Monday, leaving the Australian team with the challenge of finding an effective replacement.
Lyon suffered the injury on the second day of the test match, hobbling out to bat at number 11 on Saturday despite his physical limitations. Despite his effort, he could only manage four runs while partnering with Mitchell Starc.
The absence of Lyon as a bowler was felt by the Australian team, but they managed to overcome this setback and clinch a victory by 43 runs on Sunday.
With the revised 16-player squad not including any direct replacements for Lyon, the selectors will have to make a crucial decision on who will fill the void left by the experienced spinner.
One possible candidate is Todd Murphy, a fellow off-spinner who made an impressive debut in the test series in India earlier this year.
Australia’s coach, Andrew McDonald, stated that it was too early to determine if Murphy would be an automatic replacement for Lyon, but he emphasized the importance of having a specialist spinner in the team to maintain a balanced attack.
McDonald said, “Todd is very well placed. We like to have a spinner in our attack. It’s a different balance. 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. At times it looked a bit chaotic.”
Lyon’s absence will undoubtedly be felt by the Australian team. His experience and skill have played a significant role in their recent successes, including his remarkable performance in the series opener at Edgbaston, where he took eight wickets.
Moreover, Lyon reached a significant milestone during the second test at Lord’s, playing in his 100th consecutive test match, a testament to his consistency and durability.
Todd Murphy Might Get In
The loss of Lyon presents a challenging situation for Australia, as they now have to adapt their strategy and find a way to maintain the same level of effectiveness without their star spinner. The selectors will carefully evaluate their options before deciding on the best course of action.
While Murphy’s recent performances in India make him a strong contender, the team management will consider other factors such as the pitch conditions and the opposition’s strengths and weaknesses.
Read More: “You know… he’s a freak”, Steve Smith praises Ben Stokes after incredible knock at Lord’s
As the Ashes series progresses, Australia will aim to adjust to Lyon’s absence and strive to maintain their winning momentum. The team will need to work collectively, relying on the skills of their remaining players to fill the void left by Lyon.
The challenge of overcoming this setback will test the depth and resilience of the Australian squad as they continue their battle against England for the prestigious Ashes trophy.