"Two overs doesn't constitute a match": Lancashire wait on Nathan Lyon update

The spinner was due to call Emirates Old Trafford home for the entirety of the 2024 season but later had his availability reduced to seven of the first nine County Championship matches with Cricket Australia keen to manage his workload

Lancashire are hoping "common sense prevails" regarding overseas bowler Nathan Lyon's availability after their truncated Championship opener against Surrey ended in a draw.

Head coach Dale Benkenstein opted to include Lyon in his XI against Surrey, but the Australian only bowled two overs, with the visitors electing to bowl first and persistent rain and wind, coupled with an already high water table, preventing any play on days one and four.

The spinner had been due to call Emirates Old Trafford home for the entirety of the 2024 season but later had his availability reduced to seven of the first nine County Championship matches with Cricket Australia keen to manage his workload.

^{Cricket Australia are managing Lyon's workload [Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images]}

Lyon, who has 129 Test caps, made seven international appearances during the 2023/24 Australian summer, as well as featuring four times for New South Wales in the Sheffield Shield, while there are five home Tests against India and two against Sri Lanka (away) scheduled for 2024/25.

"I hope not!" Benkenstein said when asked if this game counted as one of Lyon's allocation.

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"We have asked the question and hope common sense prevails. Two overs doesn't constitute a match. But we are waiting to hear back from Cricket Australia."

Lancashire, who were bowled out for 202 in their first innings, picked up eight points for the drawn match while defending champions Surrey emerged with 11.

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