After a severe injury that has marked one of the biggest challenges of his career, Nathan Lyon now sees no end in sight

Like scores of bleary-eyed cricket fans Down Under who lived every moment of this winter's Ashes series in England, Nathan Lyon did not miss a ball – even after injury dislodged him from the action.

For Australian fans watching on television in the dead of night, the spiralling of their team's fortunes after their ever-present spinner left Lord's on crutches with a four-centimetre tear in his right calf was an increasing source of exasperation.

For Lyon, watching Australia play Tests without him for the first time in a decade, it was akin to a mourning process. "I found myself struggling quite a bit mentally," he told cricket.com.au ahead of his Marsh One-Day Cup return on Friday.

https://www.cricket.com.au/news/3741693/nathan-lyon-return-from-injury-rehabilitation-ashes-lords-calf-tear-tom-carter-india-england-tour-2027