How Lyon battled physical, and emotional, trauma to help Australia retain the Ashes

Australia beat England by 185 runs in the fourth Ashes Test at Old Trafford to ensure that they wouldn’t return from the country defeated for the first time in a Test series since 2001. Lyon, who took out the well-set Joe Denly for 53, before returning to claim the wicket of Jofra Archer and accelerate Australia’s victory push, said that he had to battle lack of sleep, personal abuse, thoughts of an ailing family member, as well as a heavily wounded finger to play a part in the victory.

Having had a callus on his bowling hand split open, Lyon had to make do with stitching the wound together with some form of “medical glue”, in accordance with the rules that prevent bowlers from wearing protective equipment on their dominant hands.

Though he suffered the injury early in the Test, the off-spinner sent down 36 overs in the first innings and 29 more in the second. "I can't feel it, to be honest," Lyon said of his injured finger.

"I split my finger in the first innings and … it's probably like a singer losing their vocals, but you have to find a way to compete in Test cricket. Right now, it probably hasn't sunk in. But as a kid growing up, and as soon as I got my Baggy Green, the biggest goal in my career has been to win the Ashes away. We're 2-1 up and I want to go 3-1 up, and when we hold the urn up at The Oval [the venue of the last Test], it's going to be an amazing feeling.”

The victory was retribution for Lyon, after he fluffed that run out chance in the closing moments of the previous Test, with England two runs away from a win. "I wear my heart on my sleeve, and playing cricket for Australia means everything for me,” he said. "It’s not about personal success, but I’ve had some family issues over the past – my uncle’s quite sick – so you realise quite quickly it’s just a game.

"It does impact a lot of people, but mistakes happen. I didn’t mean to drop the run-out or anything like that, but I had him plumb [lbw] next ball. That’s just the game of cricket, you've got to pick yourself up, and it’s just the way you bounce back."

Lyon didn’t have to look too far to seek inspiration for that sort of a comeback. The impact of Steve Smith’s return on this Australian side cannot be overstated.

Having seen his side lose at home to India, Smith has returned in an uncompromising mood to hit back with 671 runs in five innings, at an average of 134.2, with a lowest score of 82. In a series that has belonged to the fast bowlers, Smith has stood unequivocally between England and victory.

"The way Steve Smith came back after all this talk about him, he's an exceptional cricketer," Lyon said. "He's probably the best cricketer I've ever played with, and to be able to play most of my career with him, it's been extremely special and, hopefully, there's a lot of highlights to come.

"You get the chance to come out here and play cricket for Australia and represent your family, friends and everyone back home. It’s quite a special moment that a sport can bring a nation together. I daresay that the boys in that change-room, where we’re going to celebrate tonight, have brought a nation together.”