Follow UsAustralia spinner Nathan Lyon received a standing ovation when he walked out to bat on Day Four of the Lord's Test against England on Saturday (July 1) despite what looks like a series-ending calf injury. He struck one four, played 13 balls and put on 15 runs for the final wicket with Mitchell Starc.
Asked about why he risked further damage to his leg, Lyon said it was his decision to go out there and was well aware of the risks. "I will do anything for this team. I knew the risks. It was my call. I wanted to bat," Lyon said at the end of Day Four.
"You never know how big a 15-run partnership can be in an Ashes series. I was proud of myself but if it was tomorrow I would do it again. I love this team."
Lyon had to wait in the Lord's long room before he came out to bat. Speaking of that experience, Lyon said, "I had to go and wait in the Long Room otherwise I would have been timed out.
"It was pretty interesting. Everyone was looking at me. It was like being in a zoo.Jimmy Anderson asked me am I stupid and I said yes!"
Lyon, who is nearing 500 Test wickets is expected to know his fate on Sunday (July 2).
"I've got a decent tear in my right calf. Regarding the series, I'm seeing the medical team tomorrow and we will have a chat about that," he said.
"Right now I'm pretty gutted, it's shattering to be honest. I've been in tears, I've been upset and hurting."
It looked as though Australia had yet another breakthrough when Starc took the catch to dismiss Ben Duckett at fine-leg, but upon looking at the replays, it showed that the Aussie quick was not in full control of the ball as he had slid it across the grass. Lyon admits that the emotions are high in the Australian dressing room.
"Emotions are high [among the Australia team] but obviously there is a rule in the cricket world where you have to complete the catch. I'm not going to give you my opinion!" Lyon said.
Kevin Pietersen had suggested that Lyon could have come out to bat so that Australia could get a concussion substitute in.
"Imagine if he had been hit on the head and got concussion, he’d have got a world class replacement in the form of Todd Murphy. That gives food for thought," the former England batter had said.
Responding to that, Lyon said, “I have heard comments that people thought I went out there to get hit in the head and I’m really against that because I’ve lost one of my mates due to being hit in the head. It's a very poor thought"
With Duckett and England captain Ben Stokes -- no stranger to match-winning Ashes heroics -- unbeaten at the close of play, batting coach Marcus Trescothick said the hosts believe they can win.
"We are a positive team that seizes the opportunity to do things slightly differently and do special things," he said.
"We know the history. We have talked about it many times. While Ben [Stokes] is there, we are still pretty hopeful."
(With inputs from AFP)