“Singer losing vocals but expected to put on concert”: Nathan Lyon sympathizes with Moeen Ali over finger problem
Australia spinner Nathan Lyon expressed sympathy for fellow spinner Moeen Ali, who faces bowling crucial spells on the final day of the first Ashes Test with a badly blistered finger, comparing the situation to “a singer losing his vocals.”
Moeen Ali, who has returned to the Test side after a two-year absence, suffered a wound on his right index finger on the second day at Edgbaston and has had to leave the sphere on several occasions since to seek treatment. Notably, in addition to giving up a lot of runs, the cricketer injured his hand while bowling and used a relief spray, which is forbidden in the sport. As a result, he was ultimately penalised 25% of the match money, but in exchange, Graeme Swann and Harbhajan Singh, among many other former cricketers, backed him.
Read More: The Ashes: Check out the reason why England spinner Moeen Ali was fined 25 per cent of match fee
Ali’s comeback to the game’s longest format, meanwhile, caught everyone off guard. He had little to no prior experience playing with the red ball because he was slated to fly to the United States for the forthcoming Major League Cricket.
Speaking on the same renowned Australian spinner, Nathan Lyon said that the 36-year-old needs sympathy since it may be difficult to bowl in Test cricket all of a sudden.
Nathan Lyon sympathises with Moeen Ali over finger problem: Singer losing vocals but expected to put on concert
“It’s massive, to be honest with you, I actually sitting here have a lot of sympathy for Moeen. Not coming off any red-ball cricket for two years and thrown into bowling a lot of overs. The best way I can probably sum it up, and it will probably sound weird, is a singer losing their vocals but expecting to go out and put a concert on,” Lyon said in the post-match press conference.
“It is extremely tough to grip the ball as finger spinners, especially as offies, we put our fingers on the seam and try to spin up the back of the ball. That’s where we get spin, drop and drift. So a lot of sympathy for him, I’ve been there before, it is quite painful,” Lyon explained.
Spinners have used various strategies to strengthen their fingers over the years. Some have dipped their hands in alcoholic concoctions, while former England spinner Graeme Swann is said to have used urine.
Lyon, on the other hand, refrained from offering any advice to Moeen. “I don’t have to tell you what I do in my hotel room. We’ll leave it at that.”
Cummins and Co. outclassed the hosts in the 1st Test of the high-profile Ashes 2023
Meanwhile, Australia won the first Test by 2 wickets. As Pat Cummins guided one from Ollie Robinson towards third man region and the fielder failed to make that stop. Cummins took off his helmet, threw it away, dropped his bat and ran off in wild celebration. Finally, he picked up Nathan Lyon as Australia take 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
Australia overhaul the target of 281 to finish the contest with 282/8 in 92.3 overs. Cummins remained unbeaten on 44 off 73, Nathan Lyon 16 not out. A win for the ages.
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