Nathan Lyon races to be fit for Australia’s August Tests against Bangladesh

Nathan Lyon says his goal is to play every Test he is available for as he works his way back from a serious hamstring injury.

The injury and the timeline

The 38-year-old tore his hamstring badly while fielding in Australia’s Ashes-clinching third Test win over England at the Adelaide Oval in December 2025. He has been out since, and is now working to be fit for Australia’s two-Test series against Bangladesh in August, to be played in Darwin and Mackay.

Rehab progress

Reports say Lyon trains in the gym at least five days a week, has cycled close to 700 kilometres during his recovery, and is nearing a return to full-intensity running. He is also expected to start bowling on turf pitches in the coming weeks.

Cricket Australia physical performance coach Ross Herridge said it has been a long process since the Adelaide Test but that Lyon has hit every physical target set for him. Given how severe the injury was, he called the progress very encouraging.

A cautious selector

Chief selector George Bailey has urged some caution. He accepted that a serious hamstring tendon injury at Lyon’s age could affect his ability to play long runs of Tests, and suggested workload management might come into play with as many as 21 Tests possible over the next 12 months.

Lyon’s response

Lyon says he would not be doing all this work if he did not want to play every Test. He accepts that selection is never guaranteed and that he must keep performing and improving. He added that his love of the game and his work ethic have kept him driven through rehab, as he aims to come back stronger for a busy Test calendar that starts with Bangladesh.