Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon, known for his tenacity and commitment, has shared his wife’s reaction after he made the bold decision to bat in the second Ashes Test at Lord’s, despite suffering a major calf injury.
Lyon received widespread praise for his courageous act when he took to the crease during Australia’s second innings, even though he had torn his calf a day earlier while fielding. Partnering with Mitchell Starc, Lyon contributed to a crucial 15-run stand and managed to hit a boundary off Stuart Broad.
The partnership proved vital as it helped Australia add crucial runs to their total, eventually leading them to a hard-fought 43-run victory in the Test match.
Speaking on the ‘Willow Talk Cricket’ podcast, Lyon revealed that he had informed his wife, Emma, in the morning about his intention to bat if required. However, her response was a mix of concern and disbelief.
“Em (Emma, Lyon’s wife) was over there with me, and I said that morning, ‘just so you know, I’m going to bat if required,’ and she just looked at me and said, ‘you are an absolute idiot – I’m helping you in the shower and everything like that, you’re an idiot,'” Lyon recalled.
Although Lyon’s proposal to bat was initially rejected by the medical team and captain Pat Cummins, head coach Andrew McDonald gave his approval to Lyon’s determination.
“I went to the ground, spoke to the medical team in the morning, they said ‘nah, you’re not batting’. So I went to Pat (Cummins) and Pat said ‘you’re not batting, Gaz, get it out of your head’,” Lyon explained. “I went to (coach Andrew McDonald) and said, ‘I am batting’. He goes ‘good, I’m thinking the same thing.’ I knew the risks. If it was a minor tear, I probably wouldn’t have gone out… But I knew I was out for the next 10-12 weeks.”
Unfortunately, Lyon’s injury forced him to be ruled out for the remainder of the Ashes series, marking an end to his impressive performance after taking eight wickets in Australia’s victory at the series opener in Edgbaston. Lyon’s appearance in the second Test at Lord’s was particularly significant as it marked his 100th consecutive Test match.
