“Not the greatest signs”: Cummins provides update on injured Lyon

Nathan Lyon hobbled from the field on Day 5 with a hamstring injury, with likelihood suggesting the veteran spinner will miss the remainder of this year's Ashes series.

Chasing a ball deep in the field, Lyon dived to save a boundary, pulling up lame in the process. Exiting the field immediately, Lyon resurfaced on the sidelines on crutches.

Speaking after Australia's triumph in Adelaide, skipper Pat Cummins provided an update on Lyon's condition post game.

"He's in crutches, so probably not the greatest signs," Cummins told SEN Cricket.

"I doubt he'll be alright for the next two."

So who comes in for the veteran for Boxing Day?

The 38-year-old has enjoyed a relatively injury-free career but has suffered a calf and hamstring strain in the last two years.

The next in line would know the door is ajar for their time at Test level and to prove they have what it takes to be Lyon’s successor.

Corey Rocchiccioli, Todd Murphy, Matt Kuhnemann and Mitch Swepson seem to be the most likely options if the Aussie go like-for-like at the MCG.

So who do our SEN Cricket experts think deserves the chance?

Whateley: “So, spinners around the country. Hello (Todd) Murphy, (Corey) Rocchiccioli and (Matt) Kuhnemann; get to the nets! Someone’s coming to Melbourne.

“We sort of half workshopped this when Matty Kuhnemann joined us at the GABBA. If something happened that night, which one of these three spinners would replace Nathan Lyon?”

Fleming: Because the two Tests are so close. Even a minor hamstring is going to be two to three weeks, so they're most likely playing one of those three. Murphy debuted earlier as a young spinner has gone okay. Corey Rocchiccioli is the one whose reputation has really enhanced, particularly in Australian conditions. And Kuhnemann is a star in the subcontinent. But is that the type of spinner we want to hear in Australian conditions? I don't know.

“Todd Murphy will have experience of bowling at the MCG in the odd Shield game there.”

Whateley: “The other little kicker is the way Melbourne has been, you just want to see the pitch, wouldn't you? Last summer, you absolutely needed the spinner, but two summers before, you just go with the all-out pace attack.”

Sundaresan: “I think Corey Rocchiccioli might have pipped Todd Murphy with the number of wickets he’s taken in Shield cricket over the last two years.

“The style of bowling they like with Corey Rocchiccioli, speaking to the Australian selectors… 38 wickets last season, 46 in 2023/24. He was the best spinner each season. So nearly 100 wickets (including 2025/26) in the last two and a half seasons.”

Morris: “Mitch Swepson has 21 wickets at 36, Corey Rocchiccioli has 20 at 28, Murphy has 10 wickets at 23, Kuhnemann hasn’t played.”

Spinners took 11 wickets in last year’s Boxing Day Test, Nathan Lyon securing five of them himself.

With the possibility of two spinners at the SCG for the New Year’s Test, there’s never been a better time for the support crew of Australian spin to take the reins.