Not ready: Lyon dismisses retirement talk

Veteran Australian spinner Nathan Lyon has firmly dismissed any thoughts of retirement, declaring that he remains fully committed to playing every Test match available to him as he continues his recovery from a serious hamstring injury.

Lyon, who suffered the injury during the third Test against England in Adelaide and underwent surgery to reattach the hamstring, said he is confident of returning for Australia’s opening Test against Bangladesh in Darwin on August 13.

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The 38-year-old resumed bowling in Sydney on Monday and revealed that retirement has never crossed his mind despite concerns over his long-term future. Lyon currently has 567 Test wickets, second only to Shane Warne among Australian bowlers, and is eyeing the possibility of reaching the 600-wicket milestone.

“I wouldn’t be doing all this work right now if I didn’t want to play every Test match,” Lyon said.

“No one has a given right to be selected for Australia, so I know I need to make sure that I’m performing, doing all the right things. But I’m, hand on heart, set on playing every Test match I’m available for,” he added.

Lyon admitted he had noticed recent comments from national selector George Bailey and coach Andrew McDonald about his future and had spoken to both of them. However, he made it clear that his focus remains on extending his international career.

The off-spinner said watching New South Wales’ dramatic comeback victory over Queensland in the recent State of Origin rugby league match reinforced his desire to keep competing at the highest level.

“Seeing those guys be able to write a fairytale script for so many people in the crowd and for a professional athlete to have that ability to do that, that’s what’s really driving me at the moment,” Lyon said.

“I was sitting there with my wife and I literally said, I’m not ready to give up this, I’m missing this right now.

Lyon added that he felt he was bowling as well as he had in six years before the injury and is excited about returning to that level once he is fully fit again.