Nathan Lyon drops Beau Webster hint for Sri Lanka Tests amid injury call on Aussie teammate

Lyon admits the injury news could scupper Australia's plans for the two-Test series.

Nathan Lyon says injured Aussie Test teammate Matthew Kuhnemann is "desperate" to play in Sri Lanka after dislocating his thumb in the BBL this week. And the Aussie veteran admits seam bowling all-rounder Beau Webster could be in line for an intriguing new role with the ball during the two-Test series in Galle, where conditions are expected to see the ball turning significantly from day one.

Kuhnemann injured his thumb on Thursday night during the Heat's loss to the Hobart Hurricanes in the BBL, casting serious doubts over his availability for the first Test in Sri Lanka, starting on January 29. Selectors are awaiting further advice on Kuhnemann's injury after he underwent successful surgery on the thumb on Friday morning.

Nathan Lyon has teased a potential new bowling role for Beau Webster in Australia's Test tour of Sri Lanka. Pic: Seven/Getty
Nathan Lyon has teased a potential new bowling role for Beau Webster in Australia's Test tour of Sri Lanka. Pic: Seven/Getty

The one positive for the left-handed off-spinner is that the injury is on his non-bowling right hand, with Cricket Australia yet to confirm whether or not it will rule him out of the Test touring party. Kuhnemann's absence would be a blow to the Aussies if the conditions favour a three-pronged spin approach, with the Tasmania Sheffield Shield star offering his men the option to turn the ball in the opposite direction to fellow spinners Lyon and Todd Murphy and away from Sri Lanka's right-handed batters.

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Speaking on Seven's coverage of the washed-out BBL clash between Sydney rivals the Sixers and Thunder at the SCG on Friday night, Lyon revealed Kuhnemann was desperate to prove his fitness. The veteran admitted Kuhnemann's point of difference to the other spinners could be a "key" factor for the Aussies but said it would all depend on the condition of the Galle pitch.

"Yeah I think it's key but I'm not ruling Matty out yet," Lyon said. "His reply to me was like 'it's only my right thumb so just cut it off and away we go'. So you can tell he's desperate to play. As I said, I hope it's a speedy recovery but it's hard to tell who's going to play, obviously we don't know what the conditions are going to be like."

Lyon, Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland are Australia's frontline bowlers for the Sri Lanka tour, with regular skipper Pat Cummins staying home for the birth of his second child and Josh Hazlewood put on ice after a recent calf injury. Todd Murphy and Kuhnemann are the other main spinners, while Cooper Connolly is another slow-bowling alternative. Fellow all-rounder Beau Webster is another seam option, while quick Sean Abbott is also part of the 16-man squad.

Matt Kuhnemann injured his right thumb (R) and is in doubt to add to his three career Tests (L). Image: AAP/Channel 7
Matt Kuhnemann injured his right thumb (R) and is in doubt to add to his three career Tests (L). Image: AAP/Channel 7

And Lyon reckons the Aussie squad is well equipped to handle whatever conditions they're faced with. "It could be extreme conditions... and we potentially play three spinners," Lyon added. "Could be a decent batting wicket that turns into a spinning one later on so you may need your extra fast bowler to potentially use some reverse swing.

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"But I feel like with the squad we've got we're covering all bases. I feel like Cooper Connolly, Sean Abbott and obviously Beau Webster... with those three guys especially... I feel like with ball in hand we've got a confident enough 11 to get the job done." Lyon even admitted that Webster could even be another off-spinning option for Australia to consider, despite the fact he hasn't bowled spin for several years.

"Yeah that shows the class of Beau and the skill. I promise you I'm not coming off a long run-up," Lyon joked. "But that will be a totally different off-spinner as well being the height that he is and coming into the wicket. I don't know, that's a weapon that Smithy (captain Steve Smith) and Ron (coach Andrew McDonald) can decide."

Seen here, Beau Webster in the fifth Test against India at the SCG.
Beau Webster bowled pace in the fifth Test against India but has bowled off-spin in the past. Pic: Getty

If Kuhnemann is ruled out, Murphy would likely be required to share a greater burden of the bowling responsibility with Lyon. And despite being gutted for Kuhnemann after the injury blow, it's something Murphy is more than happy to do after making his Test debut in the 2023 Test tour of India.

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"The injury is extremely disappointing for him. I think the communication around that has been that the surgery went well," Murphy told AAP about Kuhnemann. "I really hope he gets on the plane and he's still good to go. But if it does mean we have to pivot and other things have to happen, I'm obviously more than happy to bowl as many overs as I need to."