Cricket Australia has announced that Nathan Lyon won’t play for at least the next three months, ruling him out of the remainder of the BBL and Sheffield Shield seasons – and the T20 World Cup. While unlikely to be selected for the World Cup in February, there was an outside chance that Lyon could still play a part in the BBL with the Melbourne Renegades and Sheffield Shield with NSW.
The BBL runs until the end of January, while the Shield doesn’t finish until the end of March. But CA announced on Monday that Lyon won’t be back in action for three months at minimum and has been ruled out for the rest of the domestic season.
Nathan Lyon with teammates before the first Ashes Test. (Photo by Matt King – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images)
The 38-year-old tore his hamstring in the third Ashes Test in Adelaide, and has since undergone surgery. With Australia’s next Test series not until August against Bangladesh at home, Lyon won’t be back in action for an extended period.
“Nathan Lyon has sustained a high-grade right hamstring injury for which he underwent successful surgical repair on December 23,” a statement from Cricket Australia read. “Nathan has entered an extended period of rehabilitation that will rule him out of the remainder of the domestic season. His return to play timeline will be determined at a later date based on his rehabilitation progression over the coming months.”
It means Lyon won’t play a single game for the Melbourne Renegades in a three-year stint with the BBL franchise. The prolific off-spinner signed with the Renegades before the 2023/24 season, but has never played a game for them due to a lack of availability.
Nathan Lyon tore his hamstring in the third Ashes Test. (Photo by Sarah Reed – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images)
Josh Hazlewood and Tim David on track for T20 World Cup
Cricket Australia also revealed on Monday that Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Tim David are all tracking well to be available for selection in the T20 World Cup. David has been ruled out for the rest of the BBL season with a strained hamstring, but should be back in time for February’s World Cup in Sri Lanka.
Hazlewood has missed the entire Ashes series with hamstring and calf issues, while Cummins only played the third Test due to a back problem. He’s set to have more scans late next month, which will determine his availability.
“Josh is returning to bowl, so he looks as though he should be right in terms of time frames, or possible time frames,” coach Andrew McDonald said on Monday. “Pat will have a scan in another four weeks, so that’ll give us the information then on where he’s at for the World Cup.
“He’ll be named in the squad of 15, and then we’ll get that information as to where he’s at. But Hoff (Hazlewood) looks good. I think the time frame will be kind on TD (David) as well. So he should be available no matter what that injury is, and then we’ll wait on Patty.”