Nathan Lyon warns England to expect 'totally different conditions' in 2025 Ashes series in Australia to 'docile featherbeds'
Updated 13/10/2025 at 16:47 GMT+1
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After injury curtailed Nathan Lyon's participation in the 2023 Ashes, the spinner revealed that the blow "ignited his fire" to play for Australia again. Lyon, a regular thorn in England's side, will be primed to once more take up his key role on home soil as he looks to overtake Glenn McGrath and move behind only Shane Warne in the list of all-time top wicket-takers for Australia.
Lyon warns England to expect 'totally different conditions' down under
Video credit: TNT Sports
Nathan Lyon says England will have a "different challenge" on their hands when they visit Australia for the upcoming 2025/26 Ashes series.
The 37-year-old is a veteran of Ashes cricket, first appearing against England in the Baggy Green in 2013 and subsequently taking 110 English wickets across seven Test series.
His 2023 series might have been cut short by a calf injury, but he has worked his way back to full fitness over the ensuing couple of years for another home tilt at retaining the urn.
With the series beginning on November 21 - live on TNT Sports and discovery+ - Lyon says the wickets down under will be in stark contrast to the "docile featherbeds" he has seen in England of late.
"It's totally different conditions, it's going to be a lot faster compared to England, especially over the last couple of years," Lyon said.
"The featherbeds that we've played on over there [in England] have been pretty slow and docile wickets, whereas here in Australia, the curators tend to try and make the best cricket wicket, which is exciting for both teams.
"We've got two really good bowling attacks going at each other which is going to be exciting.
"I dare say it's going to be a different challenge for them."
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Lyon suffered his series-ending injury in 2023 when fielding in the second Test at Lord's, afterwards declaring that he felt his side would have won the series 4-0 had he not broken down.
In a potentially ominous sign for England, Lyon declared that the setback has "ignited a fire" in him, as he contemplates his return to Ashes cricket in a fourth home series, and adding to his considerable legacy in the sport's oldest rivalry.
"I'll try to treat this as any normal series," he said.
"Obviously blowing the calf in the second Test match wasn't ideal. But honestly reflecting on it, I feel like the injury happened at the right time.
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Nathan Lyon speaks to Ben Stokes at Lord's, July 2023.
Image credit: Getty Images
"I would have liked it to be in the last Test match, but I think it's really allowed me to reflect on my career and where we are as a cricket team, and where I want to get to personally, but also as a team.
"It really ignited a fire again. My love for cricket, it never went down but I feel like it's got bigger and I thoroughly enjoy playing for Australia."
He added: "Ashes is a series that everyone, all the fans, you get judged on.
"If you're able to play a role in some Ashes games and win a few series along the way, that's where a lot of people will probably look back at the end of your career and see how many Ashes series have you won and what role did you play in that.
"Hopefully I can keep playing my role in keeping the urn here at home."
Lyon hopes facing this England side two years ago can stand his side in good stead, as observers wait to see the first instalment of Brendon McCullum's much-discussed 'Bazball' brand of cricket in an away Ashes series.
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Can Bazball work down under? Starc says England have 'gone back on their word'
Video credit: TNT Sports
"We learned a lot," Lyon said of the 2023 series.
"It's going to sound pretty cliche and boring but we play our best cricket when we just worry about ourselves and control what we can control, play what's in front of us and be the best problem-solvers that we can be.
"Bazball is Bazball. We've been playing a positive brand of cricket well and truly [since] I was a kid growing up watching the likes of [Matthew] Hayden and [Michael] Slater, these guys taking it on."
Watch and stream the 2025/26 Ashes series live on TNT Sports and discovery+
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