Australian men's cricket coach Andrew McDonald won't guarantee Nathan Lyon's spot in the Test side but provided a positive update on his recovery from a hamstring injury.
Lyon missed Tests at the MCG and SCG in the 2025/26 Ashes series after tearing his hamstring while fielding on the boundary in Adelaide.
Australia's next Test series will be against Bangladesh on August 13 in Darwin and McDonald revealed to reporters this week the off-spinner is making good progress.
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"He's further advanced than I thought he would be at this period of time," he said.
"I was pleasantly surprised when he was up here (in Brisbane) during our camps. He was progressing to bowling off a few steps. There was still some energy in the fingers and he was getting reps on the ball.
"You never know how those long-term injuries are going to unfold at that age, but so far, so good. A long way to go though.
"Obviously when you're halfway through the rehab, you do hit some flat spots and there's a long way to go to match intensity, but I like where he's at at the moment from where I thought he would be, and the medical team have done an excellent job in that."
Lyon's role with the side during the Ashes was limited up until his injury. At Perth he bowled only two overs in the two-day Test. In Brisbane he was dropped for an all-pace attack, a decision he was filthy with.
In Adelaide he took 2-70 and 3-77 before injury struck.
His absence meant Australia didn't pick a spinner at the MCG or SCG despite the presence of Todd Murphy.
McDonald suggested Lyon will be the frontline spinner if fit for Tests in Darwin and Mackay but wasn't willing to 100 per cent guarantee his spot.
"The way he bowled in Adelaide was as good as I'd seen him for some time," he said.
"It was unfortunate he got injured at that point in time, but if he returns to that level, it would be hard to see someone competing for that spot when he's at that level. If he was to return the way that he exited in particular that Adelaide game, then it'd be very hard for him not to be in the team.
"Now, will he play? We've left him out a couple of times recently, and he reminds me of that a lot.
"But I'd suggest that if he's in Darwin, in Mackay, then he's a fair chance to play."
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