'Jonny had a few words here or there' - Nathan Lyon opens up on Lord's lunchroom rumpus

England’s star wicketkeeper, Jonny Bairstow's dismissal in the second Test at Lord's, is one of the most controversial incidents to happen in Ashes 2023 thus far. Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon has opened up on the heated exchange between players after the incident, as Lyon claimed Bairstow was among few players to be involved in the verbal spat. 

Whereas Jonny was dismissed just before Lunch on Day 5 when England were chasing 371 runs. However, after Bairstow's dismissal and Ben Stokes' heroics, the Australian side won the game by 43 runs. 

"There were a few Australian guys and a few English guys in the lunchroom, and I hobbled up on my crutches and stood in the middle of it and tried to calm things down a little bit (laughs). Jonny had a few words here or there. That’s all part of it, I’m all for it,” said Lyon while speaking to the Willow Talk podcast. 

“The emotions in the change room were quite remarkable. Everyone was gobsmacked but found it hilarious because you walk through that Long Room, and you’re more chance of getting sued than punched. So you look at it like that and all these guys abusing you and you’re like, ‘What’s going on here?' It was quite funny in all respects,” he further added. 

Nathan Lyon's injury has impacted the Australian side in Ashes 2023

However, Lyon was ruled out of the rest of the tournament after suffering an injury on Day 2 of the Lord’s Test, but his heroics were applauded by Aussies when he came to bat in the second innings amid the calf injury. Though Lyon's injury has benefited the home side, his replacement in the third Test, Todd Murphy, was not up to the mark.

In the Headingley Test, England came back into the series and avoided the Ashes loss. Now, as the Pat Cummins-led side leads the series by 2-1 in the five-game series, the fourth Test match at Old Trafford, starting on July 19, will be crucial in deciding the winner of the Ashes 2023.