O/T:- The Ashes 2023

[Mark_Ross]

Not sure how much it will matter on this pitch, but interesting that neither side now has a specialist spinner. Hopefully Root will offer more than the Aussies can manage.

Well, Lyon took eight wickets in the first test. Useful contribution?

[countygump]

Well, Lyon took eight wickets in the first test. Useful contribution?

From BBC Ashes live¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬ ¬¬¬¬¬

Let's take a look at what some of the Australian media are saying.

Starting with Daniel Brettig in the Sydney Morning Herald, who believes the potential loss of Nathan Lyon is comparable to the infamous injury suffered by Glenn McGrath when he trod on a ball before the Edgbaston Test in 2005,

"On match eve at Lord’s, Pat Cummins spoke of how Lyon’s reliability meant he could concentrate on one end as captain as the spinner pitched his tent at the other. The occasion of Lyon’s 100th consecutive Test was an ironic but no less painful moment for him to go down.

"Unlike England after losing Jack Leach, Australia do have an outstanding back-up for Lyon in the form of the 22-year-old Victorian Todd Murphy.

"Promising as Murphy is, Lyon’s loss through injury is a blow comparable to the rolled ankle that denied McGrath to Australia for the fateful Edgbaston Test in 2005, or the wrenched knee that robbed England of Simon Jones in Australia on the preceding tour. As there is no provision for injury substitutes in Test cricket, it also gives the touring side a hugely difficult task ahead to win at Lord’s."