Star Australian batter Steve Smith admitted that Nathan Lyon’s absence in the second test will be a huge loss for their team going into the Ashes series. The Australian spinner sustained an injury trying to chase down the ball on the Day 2 of the second test, as he walked out of the field in pain.
Nathan Lyon became the first Australian bowler to play 100 consecutive test matches. The Spinner played a crucial role in the team’s victory in the 1st test picking up 8 wickets and scoring important 16 runs in the chase on the 2nd innings.
Speaking to the media, after the end of the Day 2 play, Steve Smith said that Nathan Lyon would not take the field for the rest of the game, as the injury is looking bad at the moment, and added that youngster Todd Murphy is waiting on the wings to make into the side as he played exceptionally well in Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2023
“It doesn’t look ideal for the rest of the game. I’m not sure how he actually is, but if he is no good, it is obviously a big loss for us. Fingers crossed he is okay but it didn’t look good obviously,” he asserted.
“Todd has been bowling beautifully in nets and bowled really well in India when he got his opportunity. I would be confident if he came in that he would do a terrific job for us,” Steve Smith said.
Todd Murphy made his debut for Aussies in the Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2023, as he dismissed Virat Kohli four times in four Test matches series and bagged 14 scalps. Murphy who hasn’t played much first-class cricket was impressive for Australia in the series against India.
I Haven’t Been Working On My Bowling At All – Steve Smith
Steve Smith revealed that he hasn’t worked on his bowling in recent times and believes that Travis Head will be bowling in some overs in the middle to rotate the pacers around him and added that he and Marnus Labuschagne would chip to provide rest to the pacers in next three days.
“Hopefully I won’t have to bowl too much. I haven’t been working on my bowling at all. I thought Heady bowled alright. Heady’s probably the one that’s going to have a take a fair chunk of the spin, and then maybe myself and Marnus (Labuschagne) will chip in here and there,” Steve Smith added.
Nathan Lyon gave Australia a much-needed breakthrough before picking up an injury in the middle overs, Travis Head and Steve Smith will look to fill in the void left by Lyon in the second test, as the spinner’s role in the final innings will be crucial for the Australian side to defend a total.