Nathan Lyon suffers injury during Ashes opener in Perth; Australia shell-shocked

Australia was hit with an early scare as their experienced spinner Nathan Lyon stayed off the field for the first five overs of England’s innings on Day 2 of the ongoing first Test of the Ashes 2025-26 at the Optus Stadium in Perth.

Nathan Lyon had taken a sharp blow to his left hip while batting, and the impact looked serious enough to keep him sidelined during the start of the English innings.

Nathan Lyon’s hip blow leaves Australia worried in Perth

In his absence, Australia were forced to reshuffle their field, with Beau Webster stepping into the third-slip position and Jake Weatherald shifting out to point to plug the gaps.

SHORTS

View More

Your daily dose of cricket!

Loading...

Read Also: Mitchell Starc takes one-handed blinder to again dismiss Zak Crawley for a duck in Ashes opener

However, Lyon eventually walked back onto the field, but his movements show a worrying story. The star spinner looked stiff, uncomfortable, and nowhere near his usual rhythm. Every stride hinted that the hip knock was still troubling him, and that’s not a good sign for the Australian side.

Lyon is back on but looks far from fully fit. Remains to be seen whether that knock to the hip will impact his bowling. @SEN_Cricket https://t.co/qeL6hkfKRj

— Tom Morris (@tommorris32) November 22, 2025

England dominate as 19 wickets fall on Day 1 in the 1st Ashes Test

Meanwhile, England took the upper hand in the first Ashes Test in Perth after bowling out Australia for only 132 on Day 2. The start of the match was wild, with 19 wickets falling on the opening day as fast bowlers from both sides attacked with serious pace.

Australia came into Day 2 at 123 for 9, hoping to add some important runs. But they managed to score only nine more before Nathan Lyon was dismissed for four by Brydon Carse. Carse bowled a full ball that Lyon tried to drive, but it edged off his bat and went straight to Ben Duckett at gully.

England’s bowlers were outstanding with the ball in Perth. Their captain, Ben Stokes, led the attack with a brilliant five-wicket haul, and he was well supported by Carse, who supported with three wickets, and Jofra Archer, who scalped two more to end the Australian innings early.

Read Also: India Playing XI vs South Africa- 2nd Test, South Africa Tour of India 2025

Mitchell Starc produces career-best spell while Nathan Lyon bowled only 2 overs

Earlier, Australian star pacer Mitchell Starc delivered one of the best spells of his career, taking seven wickets and bowling England out for 172 on Day 1 in Perth. With Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood already out injured, Australia is heavily depending on Starc, and he delivered his best.

However, Nathan Lyon bowled only two overs and finished with the figures of 0/10 on Day 1, dominated by the fast bowlers from both sides. On the other hand, England also faced a setback as their key batter, Joe Root, injured his left ankle while kicking a football during the warm-up.

The former England captain fell awkwardly and looked uncomfortable as he walked off. His day got even tougher when Root was dismissed for a duck in England’s first innings, as he continues to chase his first Test century in Australia.

Historic collapse in Perth

Notably, Australia’s first-innings score of 132 has become their second-lowest total in a home Ashes Test this century. Australia’s lowest total was their 98 all out in the 2010–11 Boxing Day Test at the MCG. The Perth Test also witnessed rare batting failure.

The last time both teams were bowled out for under 200 in the first innings of an Ashes Test in Australia was back in the 1990–91 series at the Gabba, when England made 194 and Australia was dismissed for 152.