Nathan Lyon is confident that injury won’t keep him out of Ranchi Test

Nathan Lyon is confident that a split callus on his spinning finger does not mean he will miss Thursday’s must-win third Test in Ranchi.

Being as threatening as ever to the Indian batsmen following a career-best eight-wicket first innings haul in Bangalore, he was suddenly impeded by the abrasion on his finger and failed take a wicket in the second Test. Lyon is didn’t bowl in the team’s first net session on Sunday, but is confident he isn’t in any doubt to be Steve O’Keefe’s second fiddle in a match Australia must hit back in if they are hungry to win the series.

Although the impact was severe at the time of injury, Lyon said that past experiences tell him he will heal quickly.

“All it was that I split a callus. I’ve bowled a lot of balls over the summer and it usually happens once or twice a year,” said Lyon.

He also recollected his last tour to India, when he suffered an injury but was fit to play in only 3 days.

“The last time I was here, the same thing happened in the third Test and I was able to play three days later.

“I’m more than confident in turning out for the next Test, depending on selection.

He further said that bowling with a tape is difficult, and the split was painful when it happened. But there are rules which go against bowling with a tape and hence Lyon didn’t even consider doing the same.

He also admitted the injury forced him to change the way he bowled in Bangalore and limited his variations.

“Yeah it hurts a lot (when it happens). I’m able to bowl cross-seam and stuff, so I can still try to spin it, but for variations and trying to get drift and drop … it does impede it a little bit,” he concluded.