Adelaide: Australia pacer Mitchell Starc has extended his support to veteran off-spinner Nathan Lyon after he suffered a hamstring injury during the third Ashes Test at Adelaide Oval.
Lyon was carted off the field on the final morning after diving into the field at long leg and was later found on crutches after a scan.
Despite the setback, he ditched his crutches to join his teammates in the victory song after Australia won the Ashes series by 82 runs.
The injury adds to the latest frustrations for Lyon, who played 100 consecutive Tests between 2013 and 2023 before a calf injury sidelined him during the 2023 Ashes series in England.
“He’s really unlucky,” Stark said. “I believe it’s a tough one to take. He has contributed a lot in this Test match. So he has to enjoy this moment first. He helped us get this win.”
Lyon made a significant impact on his return to the XI, taking five wickets in the match.
He took two wickets in his first over to overtake Glenn McGrath on Australia’s all-time wicket-taking list for second place, giving the English opposition a crucial thrashing on Day 4.
Starc noted Lyon’s previous injury experiences gave him perspective on his recovery and what lay ahead.
“He’s obviously been laid off with his calf through England, so he’s still very much with the fast bowlers in terms of taking rehab,” Starc explained.
“I think he’s still hungry to give more to Australia. It’s not a big dismissal and we’ll see him again soon.”
While Lyon’s fitness remains a concern, Starc confirmed that he is ready to continue for the rest of the series.
“(Feeling) good, ready to go,” he said. “I think my average speed was better than anybody, good to go.”
The experienced Australian center faced scrutiny over the team’s age profile ahead of the series, but Starc believes their maturity has worked in their favour.
“I think a lot is made of how old the team is and how experienced they are. Maybe that played into our hands,” he said.
While the series could be Starc’s own Ashes series, a 2027 England tour remains a possibility after he retires from T20Is to extend his red-ball career.
“I’m not thinking two years down the road. We’ll think about Melbourne and then Sydney. But, yes, it would definitely be nice to win the Ashes series in England,” he added.
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