Ashes 2025-26: Injured Nathan Lyon out of third Test and doubt for series

Australian spinner Nathan Lyon will not play in any other role on the final day of the third Ashes Test and is doubtful for the remainder of the series due to a knee injury.

Lyon, 38, who became Australia’s second-highest Test wicket-taker during the Adelaide Test, suffered the injury while diving on the field on the morning of the fifth day.

He grabbed his right hamstring and immediately left the field.

Lyon took three wickets on the fourth afternoon to put Australia on the brink of a victory that would confirm the series win.

But he was wicketless before suffering an injury as England put up an admirable fightback on the fifth day.

With just five days left until the fourth Test kicks off in Melbourne on 26 December (23:30 GMT, 25 December), Lyon has little time left to recover. The final Test in Sydney will be held five days after the conclusion of the fourth test.

Lyon, one of the best spinners of all time, suffered a calf injury during the second Test of the 2023 Ashes, which proved to be a key factor in England drawing the series 2-2.

He bowled just two overs in the first Test of this series and subsequently said he felt “dirty” after being left out of the second Test in Brisbane.