Last Updated on 5 days ago by Charbel Coorey
Nathan Lyon, one of the best off-spinners in Test history and Australia’s second-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket, has stated he’s not thinking about retirement and wants to play every match that he can.
The 38-year-old is recovering from a hamstring injury that he suffered in the third Ashes Test against England at Adelaide. Australia are to play at least 20 Tests in the next 12 months, and the first of those matches will be against Bangladesh in Darwin in August.
As reported by ESPNcricinfo, Lyon said, “Yeah, 100% [of making the Bangladesh series]. Absolutely flying. I feel really good, really confident, very happy with the way it’s gone. It’s been a lot of hard work; there’s no point in hiding behind that, a lot of long days and stuff, but that’s all been part of it.”
“Set on playing every Test match I’m available for” – Nathan Lyon not keen on retirement yet
National coach George Bailey and Australian men’s head coach Andrew McDonald had raised concerns about Lyon’s fitness, who will be 39 in November 2026. On that, the veteran off-spinner said, “I saw George’s comments; he’s had a phone call. I have seen Andrew’s comments; he’s had a phone call.
“But, yeah, I wouldn’t be doing all this work right now if I didn’t want to play every Test match. No one has a given right to be selected for Australia, so I know I need to make sure that I’m performing, doing all the right things. But I’m, hand on heart, set on playing every Test match I’m available for.”
The off-spinner said that retirement had never crossed his mind, but he took inspiration from the opening State of Origin rugby league match. New South Wales came back from 20 points down to beat Queensland in game one of the series. “Seeing those guys be able to write a fairytale script for so many people in the crowd and for a professional athlete to have that ability to do that, that’s what’s really driving me at the moment,” Lyon said.
“I was sitting there with my wife, and I literally said, ‘I’m not ready to give up this; I’m missing this right now.'”
He also revealed he felt his bowling was the best it had been for six years before injuring his hamstring last December. In the Adelaide Test, Lyon began with a bang, taking two wickets in his first over.
“Honestly, I felt like, before I blew my hammy off, I was probably bowling the best I’ve bowled in about six years. Now I know what I need to do to get to that standard. I’m really excited by that challenge,” he said.
Nathan Lyon has 567 wickets to his name, and he’s second behind legendary Shane Warne (708 wickets) for Australia. He needs 33 wickets to reach the milestone of 600 Test wickets.
