ENGLAND’S Ashes hopes have been given a massive boost with Aussie spin king Nathan Lyon likely to miss the rest of the series.
Lyon, 35, injured his right calf chasing a ball on day two of the Second Test yesterday.
And he looked visibly upset as he was helped back to the Lord’s dressing room.
Team-mate Steve Smith, who scored 110 in Australia’s first innings, admitted: “It didn’t look good. He doesn’t look like he’ll play any part in the rest of this game.
“We’re going to miss him — and could miss him for a while. If it’s not good, it is a big loss for us.”
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Lyon has been Australia’s star bowler, taking eight wickets in the tourists’ First Test triumph at Edgbaston.
He also removed Zak Crawley yesterday, the England opener becoming his 496th Test victim.
Lyon was playing his 100th Test on the trot — the first specialist bowler to do so — and will be assessed overnight. But the Aussies are concerned.
Former England captain Kevin Pietersen said: “They think he’s popped a calf and you are not coming back from that for a while. It’s the end of Lyon.”
Lyons' injury is a huge blow to his side, with Lyon playing a key role in the First Test victory at Edgbaston.
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And his setback evoked memories of Glenn McGrath's injury in the 2005 Ashes series.
The star stood on a stray ball, rupturing ligaments and damaging bone in his ankle while warming up before the second Test.
Australia had cruised to victory in the first Test, with McGrath playing a key role.
And his absence eventually saw England narrowly secure the Ashes for the first time in 18 years.
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Home fans drew parallels between Lyon's injury and McGrath's setback.
One said: "People keep comparing this series to 2005 and is that serious-looking injury to Nathan Lyon the Glenn McGrath treading on a ball moment of this summer?"
Another declared: "We saw the 2005 Ashes series turn on Glenn McGrath’s ankle. Could the 2023 series have turned on Nathan Lyon’s calf?
It’s the end of Lyon.
Kevin Pietersen on Nathan Lyon's injury
"Haven’t ever seen him in such physical or emotional distress. The bitter irony of it happening in his 100th consecutive Test."
One added: "Glenn McGrath at Lords in 2005 Nathan Lyon at Lords in 2023? Could that be another series defining injury?"
Batsman Travis Head bowled five overs of off-spin in Lyon’s absence and Smith himself sent down the final over of the day.
The Second Test is due to finish on Sunday, with the Third Test starting at Headingley on Thursday.
Smith added: “We have another spinner in the wings in Todd Murphy, who has been bowling beautifully in the nets and bowled great in India this year.”
England opener Ben Duckett, who scored 98, said: “It’s a huge shame. I really hope it’s not too bad for Nathan — you never want to see anyone go down with an injury.
“He was going to play a massive part in that fourth innings.
“He’s such a good bowler. It’ll be interesting to see how Australia go about it if he can’t bowl.”
Left-hander Duckett was one of three England batters to lose their wicket in a short-ball trap as the Aussies launched a bumper barrage.
By the close, England had made 278-4 in reply to Australia’s 416 first- innings total.
Duckett, Ollie Pope and Joe Root all perished to bouncers, while Harry Brook was dropped on 25 from another short ball.
But Duckett — caught at long leg attempting to whack another short ball — insisted England would carry on attacking in Bazball style.
He added: “I don’t regret it, I’ve scored plenty of runs with that shot.
“I’m gutted falling so close to three figures but really happy with the way I played.
“It was my best innings in an England shirt.
“Going after the short ball is the way we play our cricket. If we went into our shell or started ducking, it would be totally against what we’re about.”
