Former Test Captain Michael Clarke suggests Nathan Lyon to play in first-class cricket rather than doing a pre-season at Home.
Michael Clarke Doubts on Nathan Lyon’s County Stint
Michael Clarke has questioned Cricket Australia’s decision on Nathan Lyon’s first County Championship stint for Lancashire to play just seven games saying “it doesn’t make sense” if he is just going to return home to have a pre-season in Australia and does not play their next Test match until November 02.
Nathan Lyon has signed with Lancashire to play the entire 2024 season across all three formats but Australia’s selectors have reduced to the first half of the season.
“We’ve seen in his career he’s a much better bowler the more he bowls,” Clarke said. “I’d rather see him play cricket than, what’s he going to do, come home and do a pre-season? Rip a hamstring or a calf trying to do a 2km time trial?
This doesn’t make sense to me…what’s the difference? He’s playing seven games instead of nine games. I’d rather see Lyno keep playing and I’m sure he would like to keep bowling. That’s what he does. It’s what he does well.” said Clarke.
Callum Ferguson on CA’s Decision
Australia Batter Callum Ferguson also shared his views on CA’s decision to make Nathan Lyon play only seven matches in the County Championship.
“I really dislike this. I hate it,” Ferguson said. “I’d love to see him get the opportunity to play the full season if he thinks that’s the best thing for his career.”
“Because I feel like this opportunity to get the Dukes ball in his hand for a full season, learn as much as he can about as many facilities around the country, leaves him in better shape next time he goes over for an Ashes series and we know how dear the Ashes are to us.”
George Bailey on Nathan Lyon in County Championship
“It’s still a really great outcome,” Bailey said. “But just that conversation of actually, every now and then lifting the player’s eyes and having them have a more longer-term look at what’s happening and making sure that they’re absolutely right to go when the Australian matches are there. But it’s not something that we necessarily do [with every player].”
Cricket Australia has taken the necessary steps and monitor the first-class matches in which some of their senior players are to participate to avoid injury concerns.
Lyon played 12 FC matches last summer, which included a tour of India where he felt a heavy workload. He was part of the Ashes series in the 2023 season and bowled 53 overs in the first test at Edgbaston and picked eight wickets. He suffered a muscle tear in his calf in the first innings at Lord’s and was left out of the squad.
The selectors are aware of Lyon’s importance in the Test squad as they did not win another test in the series in his absence which implies his importance in the team.
The management will be taking necessary actions to keep Nathan Lyon fit until the 2027 Ashes. The Border Gavaskar trophy is set to be played by next summer. With the addition of five Shield matches before the BGT tournament, he will be playing 30 FC matches in 12 months if he plays in all 14 games for Lancashire this season.
Lyon has not played more than 22 FC matches in a calendar year. He has played 20 matches during the season 2013 and 2015 when he was aged 26 and 28.
Coming to the tournament, Lancashire secured fifth position in the County Championship Points table. Lancashire will be playing their next match against Hampshire starting on April 12 at The Ageas Bowl.
