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"Age is just a number": Nathan Lyon responds to Waugh's retirement talks for Aussie quartet

Soumyajit Dutta

Nathan Lyon responds to retirement talks [Source: @TUnlimitedd/X.com]Nathan Lyon responds to retirement talks [Source: @TUnlimitedd/X.com]

Australia spin legend Nathan Lyon was quick to shut off any noise from former captain Steve Waugh about retirement talks of the legendary bowling quartet.

Waugh has been quite vocal about Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon resting their boots from red-ball cricket, citing age as one of the factors; however, the 37-year-old Lyon hit back at the criticism to only appreciate the will and athleticism left in them to excel.

Nathan Lyon shuts off retirement talks

As Lyon gets ready for the Ashes 2025 series, he mentioned that the game has changed a lot when it comes to physical conditioning and recovery. Because of that, he hasn’t really thought about retirement yet.

“The game is a lot more professional than what it was even 10 years ago when I started. The science behind it all, the recovery, the way that players and the athletes look after themselves and the work they do outside hours to make sure they’re putting hours in to get their bodies right (have all improved) I feel like age is just a number. I feel like I’m still yet to play my best cricket,” Lyon was quoted as saying by Fox Sports.

Lyon said the talk of retirement hasn’t yet affected the legendary quartet, who ranks as the most successful foursome ever in the history of the game.

“As soon as you start talking about retirement, it’s going to come around a lot quicker. I haven’t thought about retirement or spoken about retirement, and I know ‘Starcy’ hasn’t done that, and I know that Josh and Pat (haven’t either). We love playing our role and we love winning Test matches, so we’ll continue to do that for a while,” Lyon said.

Meanwhile, Australia have announced their Ashes squad for the first Test against England and Steve Smith is captaining as Pat Cummins finds it difficult to join the squad given his injury. Nevertheless, the squad will be eager to start off things fiercely as the firs Test rolls down on November 21.