Australian spinner Nathan Lyon has expressed his desire to see England captain Ben Stokes return for next year’s Ashes series in the United Kingdom, amid ongoing controversy surrounding Stokes’ recent conduct. Lyon refrained from commenting directly on whether Stokes should retain the captaincy following a late-night curfew breach after England’s Test victory over New Zealand at Lord’s, stating only that he hopes Stokes’ career is not over and that he holds him in high regard.

Lyon’s remarks come after widespread criticism of the Lord’s pitch, which was deemed excessively favorable to fast bowlers, creating challenging conditions for spinners. The surface, used in England’s first Test against New Zealand last week, was deemed “unsatisfactory” by multiple International Cricket Council (ICC) officials and drew negative feedback from both teams. Despite the pitch controversy being overshadowed by the subsequent off-field issues involving Stokes, Lyon was outspoken about the need for a more balanced playing surface.

“My hope is that curators worldwide reconsider preparing such extreme conditions that heavily favor pace bowlers, which in turn limits opportunities for spinners like myself,” Lyon said. He highlighted that the ongoing trend toward fast-bowler-friendly wickets contributed to his exclusion from several recent matches. Lyon was left out of the Perth Test during the Australian summer, omitted from the Gabba Test, and noted that even his injury replacement Todd Murphy was not selected for the Sydney Test.

Looking ahead, Lyon expressed optimism about the conditions expected in Darwin and Mackay, where Australia will contest a two-Test series against Bangladesh in August. He believes those venues will offer more assistance for spin bowling, potentially providing him with an opportunity to return to the side.

Lyon is currently rehabilitating following a severe hamstring injury sustained midway through the Ashes. He reports steady progress and is on track to begin bowling in the nets soon, aiming to be match-fit for the upcoming series against Bangladesh.