SYDNEY: Australia on Monday officially ruled out veteran spinner Nathan Lyon for the rest of three matches of the Ashes series due to calf injury.
The Aussies confirmed that Todd Murphy would replace Lyo as he ruled out after suffering a “significant calf tear” while fielding on day two at Lord’s.
Australian cricketer Matthew Renshaw has also been released from the Australian test team but will remain in England and would be available if his injury recovered on time.
All replacements have yet to be included in the revised 16-player squad. Australian wicketkeeper Jimmy Peirson is with the test cricket team as cover for Josh Inglis, who returned house to Perth following the first Ashes at Edgbaston for the birth of his first baby.
Australia secured a 2-0 series lead with a thrilling 43-run final test day victory in the second Test match on Sunday after Ben Stokes threatened to repeat his Headingley heroics from 2019, blazing 9 sixes in the stunning 214-ball 155 to the glad of a lively Lord’s crowd.
Australia coach Andrew McDonald confirmed Murphy was well placed to come straight into the XI for the third Test beginning Thursday at Headingley after Lyon backed his young prodigy to hold his own in the Ashes cauldron.
Australia test cricket squad for Ashes: Pat Cummins (c), Steve Smith (VC), Scott Boland, Marcus Harris, Cameron Green, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitch Marsh, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Todd Murphy, Alex Carey (wk), Michael Neser, Usman Khawaja, Jimmy Peirson (wk), Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, David Warner.
