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.
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.
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.”
