Australian cricket veteran Nathan Lyon has expressed his eagerness to return to the national squad for the pivotal third Ashes Test at Adelaide Oval, following his unexpected exclusion from the Brisbane match that ended his 14-year consecutive home Test appearance streak. The 38-year-old off-spinner, who once served as ground staff at the iconic Adelaide venue before evolving into Australia’s most prolific Test off-spinner, is poised to rejoin captain Pat Cummins in the lineup for Wednesday’s encounter.
Despite openly acknowledging his disappointment at being dropped for the Gabba Test, Lyon maintains a forward-looking perspective regarding his role in the current series. ‘Every opportunity that there’s a Test match on, I want to be a part of it. I love playing cricket,’ Lyon stated during a media interaction after being inducted into the stadium’s ‘Avenue of Honour’ on Monday. He emphasized moving past the setback, focusing instead on his potential contributions in the upcoming match.
With Australia holding a commanding 2-0 series lead, Lyon has had minimal bowling opportunities thus far, delivering merely two overs across the opening Tests. The seasoned spinner anticipates greater involvement at Adelaide Oval, where he boasts an impressive record of 63 Test wickets. ‘I haven’t really had the opportunity to get my teeth into this Test series yet, but that opportunity will hopefully come soon,’ Lyon added.
Adelaide Oval head groundsman Damian Hough, Lyon’s former supervisor during his groundstaff days, indicated the pitch preparation would likely favor spin bowling. ‘Spin needs to play a part here. It always has,’ Hough commented, highlighting the historical significance of spin at the venue and expressing desire for spin to play a meaningful role in Australian pitches nationwide.
The Brisbane omission has temporarily halted Lyon’s pursuit of bowling milestones, leaving him at 562 Test wickets—just one dismissal shy of equaling legendary pace bowler Glenn McGrath’s tally as Australia’s second-most prolific Test wicket-taker. Despite his age, Lyon remains unequivocal about his continued international aspirations, stating: ‘I’ve played 140 Test matches. I feel like I don’t have a point to prove to anyone.’ The veteran cricketer reaffirmed his commitment to representing Australia, emphasizing his clarity of role within the team and his enduring passion for the sport.