'Hope common sense prevails' - Lancashire hopes CA use common sense over Nathan Lyon decision

The opening County Championship match between Lancashire and Surrey at Emirates Old Trafford ended in a draw, with play heavily curtailed by Manchester's wet weather. However, the main storyline surrounded the availability of Australian spinner Nathan Lyon.

Lyon, 36, signed with Lancashire for the entire county season, seeing it as a valuable opportunity to gain experience and match practice ahead of Australia's busy home summer. But the national cricketing board intervened, only making the veteran off-spinner available for seven of Lancashire's first nine championship fixtures.

Also read: Nathan Lyon slams Cricket Australia over shortening the County stint

Lancashire coach Dale Benkenstein expressed hope that common sense prevails in discussions with Cricket Australia (CA). 

“I hope not. We have asked the question and hope common sense prevails. Two overs don't constitute a match. But we are waiting to hear back from Cricket Australia,” Benkenstein said, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

The weather certainly didn't do Lyon any favours, with heavy overnight rain and a saturated outfield limiting play to just 81.1 overs across the four days. Lancashire were bowled out for 202 in their first innings, with Surrey's spinners Cameron Steel and Dan Lawrence doing the damage by taking nine wickets between them.

Surrey's head coach Gareth Batty was pleased with the efforts of Dan Lawrence and Cameron Steel, who combined for nine wickets in the first innings.

“I think both Cam and Dan are very skilled spinners, but because we have a very good seam attack, the spinners don't always get a go,” said Batty.

The board wants to extend my playing career by 3–4 years: Lyon

While the Lancashire-Surrey clash ended in a stalemate, the bigger issue surrounds Cricket Australia's decision to restrict Lyon's availability. The 36-year-old was set to play the entire season for Lancashire, but had his time cut short by his national board, much to the spinner's frustration.

Also Read: ‘I’m not here to take Hartley’s spot, I’m here to bowl in tandem with him’ — Nathan Lyon after joining Lancashire

Lyon was one of several Aussie cricketers who headed to England over the winter to gain valuable experience in county cricket ahead of a busy home summer. However, CA's intervention has limited his time with Lancashire, denying him the chance to build vital form and rhythm ahead of The Ashes.

“That’s the nature of the beast. It’s a business now and Cricket Australia have come over the top and said they want to manage me and hopefully extend my playing career for the next three to four years, whatever it may be,” Lyon told BBC Lancashire.