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Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon will miss the rest of the Ashes series against England with the calf injury he sustained in the second Test at Lord’s.
Lyon, who has 496 Test wickets, suffered the issue on day two of the encounter.
The 35-year-old’s absence was confirmed as Australia left him out of their squad for the remaining three Tests because of a “significant calf tear”.
Batter Matthew Renshaw has also been omitted from the Australia squad.
Australia lead the series 2-0 having won by 43 runs at Lord’s and by two wickets in the first Test at Edgbaston.
Spinner Todd Murphy, who took 14 wickets on a tour of India earlier this year, could replace Lyon for the third Test, which starts at Headingley on Thursday.
“As you saw [on Sunday], at certain times, we had to do it differently without Nathan Lyon down the other end, which we’ve been so used to,” said Australia coach Andrew McDonald.
“At times it looked a little bit chaotic so we do like to have that spin option.”
Murphy had only played seven first-class matches before his Test debut against India in February.
“His stock ball is good enough in international cricket,” said Lyon. “We have seen that in India in arguably the hardest place to bowl spin.
“It will be a different challenge with the England batters.
“If they do come at him, it provides Todd with a decent challenge. But a chance to leave his footmarks here in England. It is a big Ashes series, he is excited by the opportunity.”
This isn’t career-defining – Lyon
Lyon took eight wickets in Australia’s victory in the first Test at Edgbaston.
He dismissed opener Zak Crawley at Lord’s to take his 496th Test wicket when he was playing his 100th consecutive Test.
He then sustained his injury on day two of the second Test when he pulled up as he ran to field a ball.
Lyon hobbled out to bat for his side on day four and scored four runs as he added 15 with Mitchell Starc.
“I’ve been extremely lucky with injuries. I’ve been around since August 2011 and we’ve had 126 Test matches and I’ve played 122 of them,” said Lyon, who is unsure if he will stay in England for the rest of the Ashes series or return home for rehabilitation.
“This is just a little speed bump in the road. This isn’t career-defining. I am hungrier than ever to get back out there.”
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