Australian spin star Nathan Lyon has signed a new three-year Big Bash deal to play with the Melbourne Renegades that will keep him in the game long enough for a potential return to England for the 2027 Ashes.
Lyon, who missed the final three Ashes Test after suffering a serious calf injury, is leaving the Sydney Sixers to join his third BBL club in a deal which links him with Australian white-ball spinner Adam Zampa.
But it also ensures the 35 year-old Test great will continue his stellar career for years to come, giving hope of a return to England when the Aussies go back in 2027.
“I’m absolutely thrilled to be part of the Melbourne Renegades,” Lyon said.
“(Marvel Stadium’s) a place where I enjoy bowling, it tends to spin a little bit. I’m looking forward to hopefully joining up with ‘Zamps’ in a really good partnership and putting a show on for the Renegades fans.
“I’ve got some really good friends who are part of the Melbourne Renegades, and that’s one of the reasons I wanted to come down. There’s a good group of senior players there who I’ve played a lot of cricket with internationally and also domestically, then you look at the younger guys throughout the roster – it’s a pretty powerful squad in my eyes.
“I think we need to set the benchmark high, shoot for the finals and make sure we go and try to lift the trophy.”
Lyon was the leading wicket-taker in the BBL in 2011, before he made his Test debut.
He has played 38 BBL matches around his international duties since then but has been let go by the Sixers, opening the door for a Melbourne move.,
“It’s fantastic to have a player and person of Nathan’s calibre joining the Melbourne Renegades. Nathan’s success over a sustained period at the highest level of the game speaks for itself, and he will be an incredible asset to our group with his skills and experience,” Melbourne Renegades General Manager, James Rosengarten, said.
“Over the last couple of years, we’ve had a clear plan around transforming our playing list to give our club the best opportunity to contend for another BBL championship.
“Being able to add two world-class spinners in Nathan and Adam to our squad for the next couple of years is a significant step in that process, one which we’re confident will help to set us up for success over the coming seasons.”
The Renegades will begin their campaign on December 8 against the Sydney Sixers, a match Lyon would be unlikely to feature in with the first Test of the summer against Pakistan starting on December 14.
