Australian Cricket Boosted as Injured Stars Mahli Beardman and Nathan Lyon Near Returns

The Australian cricket team has received a significant double boost as two crucial pieces of their bowling attack—one an emerging tearaway, the other a seasoned veteran—take major steps toward returning to the pitch.[1][2]

Fast bowler Mahli Beardman, 20, and 38-year-old spinner Nathan Lyon have both been sidelined for months following severe injuries sustained during the 2025-2026 summer. Their respective rehabilitations offer a silver lining for a national squad that has navigated a heavily depleted fast-bowling cartel.[3][4][7][8]

Beardman's international career came to a grinding halt in January. Just days after making his Twenty20 International debut against Pakistan, the Western Australian quick reported lower back soreness during a warm-up and was withdrawn from the starting XI. Scans subsequently revealed a lumbar bone stress fracture, ruling him out for the remainder of the domestic season.[4][8]

Five months later, Beardman has received the all-clear. Recent scans confirmed the bone has healed, giving the 20-year-old the green light to reintroduce running into his training program. "I'm fully recovered now," Beardman confirmed, noting that he is entering a 10-to-12-week gradual build-up before returning to his full run-up.[1][3]

Lower back stress fractures are a notorious hurdle for young fast bowlers, often requiring them to remodel their actions to reduce mechanical strain. However, Beardman does not expect to make major technical changes, instead focusing on physical conditioning and minor tweaks. He is drawing direct inspiration from Australian Test captain Pat Cummins, who famously overcame a string of early-career stress fractures to become one of the world's most resilient fast bowlers.[1][3][4]

"To have a similar sort of path early doors of repeat back stress injuries, and then to be able to overcome those and still have a solid career and work through adversity is something that I think a lot of young athletes... take inspiration from," Beardman noted.[3]

At the other end of the career spectrum, Nathan Lyon is battling back from what physical performance coaches described as a "pretty traumatic" injury. Australia's all-time greatest finger-spinner tore his hamstring off the bone while fielding during the third Ashes Test against England at the Adelaide Oval in December, an injury that required immediate surgery.[2][6][7]

Lyon's recovery has been grueling but successful. The 141-Test veteran has hit all of his physical markers, spending five days a week in the gym and riding approximately 700 kilometers on a road bike to rebuild his fitness. He has recently resumed bowling off a few steps and plans to bowl on turf wickets against batters in the coming weeks.[4][7]

Despite his progress, national coach Andrew McDonald and chief selector George Bailey have publicly tempered expectations, noting the difficulty of a 38-year-old returning to play every match in a packed 21-Test schedule. Bailey suggested that Lyon's hamstring might not return to a level that allows for massive blocks of consecutive games.[4][7]

Lyon, however, remains resolute. The veteran spinner personally phoned selectors to insist he intends to play every Test for which he is available. "I wouldn't be doing all this work right now if I didn't want to play every Test match," Lyon stated, adding that he is "addicted to training" and determined to prove his fitness.[2][5][7]

Both bowlers are now targeting imminent returns. Lyon is aiming to be fully fit for Australia's two-Test home series against Bangladesh, which begins on August 13 in Darwin. Beardman, meanwhile, is prioritizing a return to domestic four-day cricket, hoping his rebuilt body can withstand the rigors of the Sheffield Shield as he pushes for a first-class debut.[2][3][6]