Former England captain Kevin Pietersen has been slammed by Australian spinner Nathan Lyon after the former made a comment on-air stating that the Aussie contingent might have sent the off-spinner in to bat in the hope that he would get hit in the head by a bouncer. (More Cricket News)
He said, "Imagine if he (Lyon) had been hit on the head and got concussion, he’d have got a like-for-like replacement and a world-class spinner (Murphy), based on how he performed in India, it gives food for thought,” Pietersen said.
However Pietersen clarified later that he wasn't accusing the Aussies of anything.
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The statement did not go down well with Lyon, who earlier came out to bat despite being injured.
“I have heard comments that people thought I went out there to get hit in the head and I’m really against that because I’ve lost one of my mates due to being hit in the head. So I think that’s a really poor excuse or conversation being had,” Lyon said.
Kevin Pietersen's suggestion was that Australia could end up swapping Lyon for Todd Murphy, as a concussion substitute, and in a way could help the visitors on course to a win at Lord's.
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Earlier, Lyon shocked on-lookers and the whole world when he came out to bat during the second innings of the Lord's Test. The 35-year old received a standing ovation from the packed Lord's crowd.
“I knew the risk,” Lyon said. “But the way I look at it, I will do anything for this team and you never know how big a 15-run partnership can be in an Ashes series.
“So, yes I am proud of myself for going out there and doing that. If it was tomorrow, I would do it again and again and again because I love this team, I love playing for Australia.”
