Nathan Lyon’s stint at Lancashire for the 2024 English domestic summer has been cut short by Cricket Australia, due to concerns over the off-spinner’s workload heading into a busy 2024/25 Australia international season.

Lyon will now only be available for seven of the the first nine rounds of the County Championship, concluding his time with the county in early July with their fixture against Nottinghamshire. He had been due to be available for Lancashire for the whole of the county season.

The reduction in his time in England was taken to allow him more time to rest inbetween the end of the English season and the start of Australia’s five-match Test series against India in November. Lyon, who turns 37 this year, has 530 Test wickets, the seventh-highest wicket tally in the format’s history.

JUST IN: Nathan Lyon will now just play seven County Championship games for Lancashire in 2024.

He was previously set to be available for the full 2024 season across all three formats.#CountyCricket2024 pic.twitter.com/wTb2JPpEWG

— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) March 27, 2024

Speaking on Lyon’s early departure from the club, Lancashire’s director of cricket performance Mark Chilton said: “Naturally, we are disappointed that Nathan will no longer be joining us for the full 2024 season. However, we are still incredibly excited to be able to welcome him for seven matches in the Vitality County Championship.

“With Nathan no longer being available for our white-ball campaigns this summer, we are now assessing our options regarding overseas players and a number of discussions are currently taking place on that front.”

Lyon’s stint at Lancashire had generated some concern with potential ramifications for young England Test spinner Tom Hartley. With unfavourable spinning conditions during the early part of the County Championship in April and May, following Hartley’s success on England’s Test tour of India, England head coach Brendon McCullum voiced concerns over whether Lyon’s signing would reduce opportunities for Hartley in Lancashire’s first XI.

Lancashire’s County Championship campaign will get underway at Old Trafford against reigning champions Surrey, on April 5.

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