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Given that Australia’s next Test match is not until November 22, Michael Clarke, Nathan Lyon’s first Test captain, has questioned Cricket Australia’s decision to limit his County Championship stint with Lancashire to just seven games. Clarke says it “doesn’t make sense” if Nathan Lyon is simply going to return home to complete a pre-season.
After speaking with Australia’s selectors, Lyon, 36, had originally committed to Lancashire to play all three formats of cricket for the entire 2024 season. However, that commitment was later trimmed to just the first half of the season and red-ball cricket exclusively.
The first game of the season washed out, leaving Lyon bowling just two overs and available for just six more of the next eight overs under the guidelines set out by CA, although the club were hopeful that would be adjusted. Lyon expressed his “pretty disappointment” at the restrictions, and Lancashire were left even more frustrated.
Clarke criticised CA’s decision to end Lyon’s England tour in an interview with ESPN’s Around The Wicket, stating he could understand it if Lyon had been an all-rounder or a fast bowler rather than a spinner.
“We’ve seen in his career he’s a much better bowler the more he bowls,” Clarke said. “I’d rather see him play cricket than, what’s he going to do, come home and do a pre-season? Rip a hamstring or a calf trying to do a 2km time trial? This doesn’t make sense to me…what’s the difference? He’s playing seven games instead of nine games. I’d rather see Lyno keep playing and I’m sure he would like to keep bowling. That’s what he does. It’s what he does well.”
Former Australia batter Callum Ferguson was equally critical of the decision.
“I really dislike this. I hate it,” Ferguson said. “I’d love to see him get the opportunity to play the full season if he thinks that’s the best thing for his career. Because I feel like this opportunity to get the Dukes ball in his hand for a full season, learn as much as he can about as many facilities around the country, that leaves him in better shape next time he goes over for an Ashes series and we know how dear the Ashes are to us.”