Nathan Lyon: Lancashire sign Australia Test off-spinner for 2024 season

Nathan Lyon made his comeback in the Sheffield Shield for New South Wales in October after four months out with a calf injury

Lancashire have signed Australia Test off-spinner Nathan Lyon for 2024.

The 35-year-old made his return to first-class cricket last month after tearing his calf against England in the second Ashes Test in June.

Lyon, who will be available for all formats, took six wickets in four games during a brief spell in county cricket with Worcestershire in 2017.

Lancashire are still without a head coach after Glen Chapple's exit at the end of last season.

"This is an exciting opportunity for me, and I am really looking forward to heading over to England for a full season of county cricket with Lancashire," Lyon told the club website.

"I love playing cricket in England. I'm keen to keep learning, keep improving my game and hopefully I can contribute to winning matches for the Red Rose and pass on some of the experiences that I have gained over the years."

Lyon also signed to play for Hampshire in 2020 but the move was curtailed amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Prior to suffering he calf injury which ruled him out for the final three Ashes Tests in the summer, Lyon had appeared in 100 consecutive Tests, making him just the seventh player in men's international cricket to achieve that feat.

Only Australian greats Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath have taken more than Lyon's 496 Test wickets for the Baggy Greens.

Lyon could feature alongside England bowling legend James Anderson next season. The pair are eighth and third in the all-time list of Test wicket-takers, with 41-year-old Anderson having taken 690.