Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon has expressed his intention to continue playing Test Cricket following his recovery from a hamstring injury.
The 38-year-old experienced a severe hamstring tear while fielding during Australia’s decisive third Test win in the Ashes series against England at the Adelaide Oval in December 2025. He hasn’t played since then and is working hard to be ready for Australia’s next Test series against Bangladesh in August, which consists of two matches set to take place in Darwin and Mackay.
According to cricket.com.au, Lyon is currently in the gym five days a week, has cycled around 700 km for his recovery, and is close to running at full capacity again. He plans to start bowling on turf wickets soon.
“It’s been a long process since the Adelaide Test. We’re about two-thirds through it now. It’s a pretty serious injury. We’ve established checkpoints in this process, and so far, he’s met all of them,” said Cricket Australia’s physical performance coach Ross Herridge, as reported by the source.
However, Australia’s Chief Selector George Bailey is cautious about Lyon’s ability to play in every Test due to the severity of the injury and his age.
“It’s a significant hamstring tendon injury for a 38-year-old, so there’s a real possibility he may not return to peak performance. This might mean he can’t play in long stretches of games, and it’s something we need to consider,” Bailey commented earlier, as mentioned in the same report.
Lyon responded by reiterating his desire to participate in every Test as Australia prepares for a busy year, potentially playing up to 21 Tests starting in August.
“I noticed George’s comments; he had a conversation. I’ve seen Andrew’s comments; he had a discussion too. I wouldn’t be putting in all this effort if I didn’t want to play every Test match. No one is guaranteed a place in the Australian team, so I know I must perform and do the right things. But my heart and mind are set on playing every match I’m available for. I’m eager and motivated to improve every day, so getting back to peak fitness has never been an issue for me,” Lyon stated, as reported by the source.