Nathan Lyon is preparing to return to action after the
calf injury that terminated his Ashes trip and would be prepared to assist
Australia at the ODI World Cup in India if they needed further spin-bowling
help.
Prior to making his state comeback for New South Wales
in a Marsh Cup game against South Australia on October 20, Lyon will be back on
the pitch for grade cricket the following week. On October 26, Lyon will make
his return to the Sheffield Shield against Victoria at the MCG.
He is now scheduled to play in the three Shield games
prior to the summer Test season. He intends to participate in New South Wales’
home matches against Western Australia and Tasmania at the SCG, beginning on
November 6 and November 28, respectively. However, in order to avoid playing
four consecutive matches, he probably won’t travel to Hobart for the first
match with Tasmania.
“I sent Andrew McDonald a text message the other
day when I saw Ashton Agar was ruled out. I said, ‘just to let you know, I’m
back bowling 10 overs, I’m right to go, 100 percent’. If that happened I’d do
anything to go over and play the World Cup,” Lyon said.
“I’d be more than comfortable going in there and
doing it if I had to. But in saying that there has to be a lot of things go wrong,
so let’s hope for Australia’s sake that doesn’t happen. Hopefully, they go out
there and have a really good campaign and make sure they go over there to
achieve what they’ve gone over there to do.”
Legspinner Tanveer Sangha is currently a traveling reserve
with the squad while Lyon backed Maxwell to be able to take on increased
responsibility with the ball.
“Glenn Phillips bowled pretty well the other
night against England and I feel like Maxi’s skill set is up there and he’s
extremely confident,” he said. “Hundred percent I’m backing his skill
set to do the job there and when Travis Head comes back, I dare say his
offbreaks will be quite effective as well.”