Australian spin bowler Nathan Lyon suffers mild concussion in intra-squad trial match

Australian spinner Nathan Lyon has been withdrawn from the remainder of an intra-squad trial match after suffering an injury in the field.

Australian spin bowler Nathan Lyon suffered an injury scare during a trial match this week, Cricket NSW has confirmed.

During the opening day of a three-day intra-squad in Sydney, Lyon suffered a mild concussion while fielding late on Tuesday.

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The 33-year-old has been withdrawn from the rest of the fixture as a precaution, but Cricket NSW remains adamant he will feature in next week’s Sheffield Shield match against Victoria.

Earlier in the trial match, Lyon claimed 1/79 in a 20-over spell with the ball.

On Wednesday, Cricket Australia confirmed another batch of fixtures for the Sheffield Shield and Marsh Cup.

New South Wales and Victoria will play their opening match of the 2021/22 summer at Sydney’s Drummoyne Oval next week, with a first-class fixture getting underway on Wednesday.

The four-day contest will be crucial Ashes preparations for Australian hopefuls Marcus Harris and Will Pucovski, who suffered his 10th head knock last week.

As first reported by The Australian, the 23-year-old batting prodigy was hit in the head by a cricket ball during a training session with the Victorian side.

Pucovski’s short career so far has been riddled by concussion issues, stemming from a head knock suffered during a game of Aussie rules football in high school, which sidelined him for six months.

Nathan Lyon played his 100th Test match earlier this year. Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images

Speaking to reporters earlier this month, Lyon rebuffed concerns that significant disruptions to Australia’s Ashes preparation will leave the national side underdone for the blockbuster five-match series against England.

“I’m itching to start playing some cricket,” he said.

“In my eyes, there’s still going to be three really decent hit-outs (in the Sheffield Shield).

“I’m more than confident with my preparation. If the Test started tomorrow, I’d be itching to go, knowing that my skill set is where it needs to be.”

Lyon said while it was a shame to have gone through the winter without playing Test cricket, the situation was out of his hands.

“With the pandemic going on in the world, I don’t think we can argue too much,” he said.

“In saying that I’d love to playing more Test cricket, don’t get me wrong.

“The more games I’m able to play for Australia, the happier I’ll be.”

Sheffield Shield fixtures

Oct 27-30: Western Australia v South Australia – WACA Ground

Oct 27-30: Queensland v Tasmania – Riverway Stadium, Townsville

Oct 27-30: New South Wales v Victoria – Drummoyne Oval

Nov 5-8: Victoria v New South Wales – Melbourne Cricket Ground

Nov 10-13: Queensland v Western Australia – Gabba

Nov 10-13: Tasmania v South Australia – Blundstone Arena

Marsh Cup fixtures

Oct 25: Western Australia v South Australia – WACA Ground

Nov 1: Queensland v Tasmania – Riverway Stadium, Townsville

Nov 12: Victoria v New South Wales – MCG (Day/Night)

Nov 15: Queensland v Western Australia – Gabba (Day/Night)

– with Matthew Sullivan & Jasper Bruce