Lyon backs veteran Australia squad to keep playing past next Ashes series

Most players in Australia’s Test squad are “closer to the end than the start” of their careers but they should be able to play on for another three to five years after working hard on their fitness and looking after their bodies, bowler Nathan Lyon said.
Australia had just two players under the age of 30 in the squad that claimed a 2-0 Test series win over New Zealand earlier this month.
The world’s second-ranked test side saw one high-profile retirement this year, with 37-year-old batter David Warner bringing down the curtain on his career in January, but Lyon did not expect other veteran exits ahead of the next Ashes series against England in 2025-26.
“We’re definitely getting closer to the end than the start,” Lyon, 36, said in an episode of the ‘Willow Talk’ podcast released on Wednesday. “But I think also where we are in our careers is that we’ve done the hard work when we’re continuing to do the hard work in our preparation, our recovery, our rehab.
“There’s no reason why we can’t keep playing on for three to four or five years.”
Bowlers Lyon, Josh Hazlewood (33), Scott Boland (34) and Mitchell Starc (34) are among the older heads in the group, but Lyon said that captain Pat Cummins’ management of the bowling department helps keep them fresh.
“The only thing going to stop blokes is potential injuries and how the body holds up.
“The skill is always going to be there. The guys have played long enough now and they know what to do and how they go about it,” Lyon said.
“And another thing is that, especially within the bowlers, under Pat (Cummins), Pat gets it as well,” Lyon said. “He understands when the bowlers are cooked ... he understands the importance of managing (our) bowlers pretty well.”

Bangladesh lawmaker Shakib recalled for Sri Lanka Test
Newly elected lawmaker Shakib Al Hasan was on Wednesday recalled to the Bangladesh squad for the second Test against Sri Lanka.
The former captain, an all-rounder, successfully stood for the ruling Awami League during general elections in January. Shakib has not played for the Bangladesh team since the end of the 50-over World Cup in November and his last Test was in April 2023, against Ireland.
On top of his parliamentary duties, Shakib has been playing in the 50-over Dhaka Premier League this month. Shakib’s inclusion by the Bangladesh Cricket Board followed a 328-run thrashing in the opening Test in Sylhet on Monday, with the hosts failing to post 200 runs in either innings.
Batsman Towhid Hridoy, 23, who has yet to make his five-day debut, made way for Shakib in the squad after being left out of the first Test playing side. Uncapped Mushfik Hasan has been ruled out of the second and final Test because of an ankle injury and was replaced by fellow pacer Hasan Mahmud.
Bangladesh Test squadNajmul Hossain Shanto (capt), Zakir Hasan, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Shadman Islam, Liton Das, Mominul Haque, Shakib Al Hasan, Shahadat Hossain Dipu, Mehidy Hassan Miraz, Nayeem Hasan, Taijul Islam, Shoriful Islam, Syed Khaled Ahmed, Nahid Rana, Hasan Mahmud.