‘I’m very confident I’ll be here’: Nathan Lyon shuts down retirement talk, drops return update

Australia veteran Nathan Lyon says he is on track to return for the opening Test against Bangladesh in Darwin next month after making significant progress in his recovery from a hamstring injury. The experienced off-spinner has not played since suffering the injury during the third Ashes Test in December. Lyon underwent surgery to reattach the damaged hamstring and has since focused on regaining full fitness ahead of what could be a demanding period for Australia, with 20-21 Tests scheduled over the next 13 months. The first Test against Bangladesh begins in Darwin on August 13, and the 38-year-old is optimistic about reclaiming his place in the playing XI. “I’m very confident I’ll be here next month,” Lyon told reporters in Darwin. “I’m feeling very good. The rehab’s been really good. I’m about 26 weeks now post surgery and back to doing everything. Running high speed, doing everything like that. I’m looking forward to it.” Lyon, who has played 141 Tests for Australia, is the country’s fifth-most capped men’s Test cricketer. He is now just four matches away from drawing level with legendary leg-spinner Shane Warne, who finished his career with 145 Test appearances. The off-spinner was left out of Australia’s two most recent pink-ball Tests in Kingston and Brisbane, where the selectors opted for an all-pace attack. However, with both the Darwin and Mackay Tests against Bangladesh scheduled as day matches, Lyon expects to return to his familiar role. Australia’s packed Test calendar also includes challenging away series against South Africa, India and England, and Lyon believes he still has plenty to offer despite approaching the latter stages of his career. “I’m still trying to get better,” he said. “I still feel like there’s a lot of learning there for me, and I still feel like I’ve got a massive role to play within Cricket Australia. “You’re always feeling the pressure; no-one’s got a given right to be selected for Australia … it’s not just my position people are going for; people are trying to knock off Steve Smith as well. That’s the challenge that’ll keep us older fellas on our toes. “It’s a big training program now to make sure that come August 13 we walk out here prepared, and then we’ll worry about the next series after we complete this one.” Lyon’s recovery has attracted considerable attention following the seriousness of the injury. Cricket Australia physical performance coach Ross Herridge described the hamstring damage as “pretty traumatic”, while national selector George Bailey acknowledged there had been uncertainty over whether the veteran could return to his previous level. Todd Murphy’s inclusion on Cricket Australia’s central contract list also fuelled speculation about Lyon’s long-term future in the Test side. Reflecting on the injury earlier this year, Bailey said: “A pretty significant hamstring tendon injury to a 38-year-old, probably there’s a higher degree, or a sense of realism that it may not ever get back to the upper echelon of where you need it to. “So what does that look like? It may mean there’s not necessarily the capacity to play big blocks of games, and you may have to look at that. “But having said all that … with a really good block to get it as strong (as possible) and to get back to bowling as well as he can, he’s got a great opportunity for that and it’s tracking well at the moment.” Lyon’s return would provide a major boost for Australia as they begin an important stretch of Test cricket, starting with the two-match home series against Bangladesh.