{"id":312606,"date":"2023-06-29T22:49:33","date_gmt":"2023-06-29T22:49:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=312606"},"modified":"2023-06-29T23:58:02","modified_gmt":"2023-06-29T23:58:02","slug":"likely-lyon-replacement-bowling-beautifully","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=312606","title":{"rendered":"Likely Lyon replacement 'bowling beautifully'"},"content":{"rendered":"

Steve Smith<\/a> is hopeful Australia won't need to replace Nathan Lyon<\/a> in this year's Ashes<\/a> series, but is confident Todd Murphy<\/a> would do a "terrific job" in the legend's absence.<\/p>\n

Australia faces a nervous wait to determine the full extent of Lyon's calf injury, which he suffered on day two<\/a> of the second Ashes Test at Lord's.<\/p>\n

It's a cruel twist of luck for Lyon, who suffered the injury in what was his 100th consecutive Test.<\/p>\n

AS IT HAPPENED:<\/strong> The Ashes second Test, day two\ufeff<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

\ufeffREAD MORE:<\/strong> Coach's savage move after 'diabolical' Dragons flop<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n

READ MORE:<\/strong> English great torches 'shambolic' bowling efforts<\/strong><\/a>\ufeff<\/p>\n

Pending scans, the 35-year-old could miss the remainder of the second Test and subsequent outings.<\/p>\n

The injury is already being likened to the 2005 Ashes incident in which Glenn McGrath suffered two ruptured ligaments and bone damage in his right ankle after rolling it on a ball.<\/p>\n

\"Nathan<\/p>\n

McGrath's absence was felt and England won the series, marking the first Ashes triumph in 18 years.<\/p>\n

"I haven't been up in the sheds yet, but yeah, obviously it didn't look good," Smith said at stumps.<\/p>\n

"It doesn't look ideal for the rest of the game. I'm not sure how he actually is. Obviously, if he's no good it's a big loss for us.\u00a0<\/p>\n

"He's in his 100th consecutive Test match, which I know he was really looking forward to taking part in and having a role in as well.\u00a0<\/p>\n

"So yeah, fingers crossed, he's OK, but it didn't look good."<\/p>\n

\"Smith's<\/p>\n

Lyon was particularly potent in the first Test at Edgbaston, taking four wickets in the first innings and another four in the second.<\/p>\n

He also played a pivotal role in the 55-run partnership with Pat Cummins that won them the Test in a second innings run chase.<\/p>\n

It's a big blow for Australia with only the likes of Travis Head, Marnus Labuschange and Steve Smith spinning options \u2013 albeit, a far cry in ability from Lyon.<\/p>\n

"It's not ideal, particularly your spin bowler \u2013 it's one role," said Smith.<\/p>\n

"Batter, I suppose there's loads of us around, so it's a bit different. I think Nathan's obviously, if he's no good, it'd be a huge loss."<\/p>\n

\"Todd<\/p>\n

If Lyon needs to be replaced it will almost certainly be 22-year-old bespectacled Murphy answering the call.<\/p>\n

Murphy was a revelation for Australia in India, taking 7-124 on debut.<\/p>\n

Lyon's place as the go-to specialist spinner has kept Murphy out of the picture in pace-friendly conditions, however, now might be his time to shine.<\/p>\n

"Todd Murphy is waiting in the wings," said Smith.<\/p>\n

"He has been bowling beautifully in the nets and bowled really well in India when he got his opportunity as well.\u00a0<\/p>\n

"I'd be confident if he came in he'd do a terrific job for us, but fingers crossed Nathan's all right."<\/p>\n

Murphy also has the backing of another legendary spin bowler, Ravichandran Ashwin.<\/p>\n

"Todd Murphy had a sensational debut series," Ashwin was quoted by the UK Telegraph.<\/p>\n

"Murphy came here 10 to 50 times better than how Nathan Lyon came here on his first Test tour."<\/p>\n

For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by<\/strong><\/em> clicking here<\/strong><\/em><\/a>!\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Steve Smith is hopeful Australia won't need to replace Nathan Lyon in this year's Ashes series, but is confident Todd Murphy would do a "terrific […]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":312608,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/312606"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=312606"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/312606\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":312612,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/312606\/revisions\/312612"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/312608"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=312606"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=312606"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=312606"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}