In an act of incredible bravery, Nathan Lyon showed immense courage and determination to come out and bat in Australia’s second innings in the ongoing second Test, at Lord’s, of the Ashes 2023 series, while virtually walking one leg.
Playing in his 100th consecutive Test match for Australia, Nathan Lyon suffered a “significant” calf strain on Day 2 of the Lord’s Test. He had bowled 13 overs in England’s first innings before limping off the field with the assistance of the physio. Lyon is likely to be ruled out of the remainder of the series.
However, his series wasn’t over yet. Despite this injury and the huge amount of pain, Nathan Lyon came out to bat at number 11 in Australia’s second innings.
It made for one of the moments of the Ashes 2023 as Nathan Lyon was given a standing ovation by the entire Lord’s crowd as he slowly, and carefully walked out of the Lord’s long room and into the playing field. Aussies, Englishmen, and neutrals, all stood up to applaud this great act of gallant courage and bravery from Australia‘s ‘GOAT’ off-spinner who was ready to further aggravate his injury and pain to add some more runs.
His sacrifice didn’t go in vain as Lyon and Mitchell Starc fought back the bouncer barrage of the England seamers and put on a small, but important partnership of 15 runs for the 10th wicket. Nathan Lyon even hit a boundary via a sizzling pull shot.
WATCH: Entire Lord’s crowd gives a standing ovation to Nathan Lyon
Fair play Nathan Lyon 👏 #EnglandCricket | #Ashes pic.twitter.com/ZiqstQkU16
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 1, 2023
England is given a target of 371 runs
England bowlers fought back on Day 4 with their own ploy of short ball that did the trick. 8 Australian wickets fell across two sessions today, mostly to the short balls, for 149 runs. Australia are bowled out for 279 and have set England a target of 371 runs with 4 sessions left in the match.
Considering that England is going to go after this target, a draw seems out of the equation. Last year, England started their Bazball era by chasing big totals against India and New Zealand at home. Can they do it again in the Ashes Lord’s Test?
