Anderson makes comeback, backs Lyon to roar again

Nathan Lyon received support from the unexpected English source of James Anderson regarding the prospect of mental demons as Australia rally around their off-spinner after the third Ashes Test.

Lyon was a perfect example of the fickle nature of Test cricket at Headingley on Sunday.The tweaker claimed the key scalp of Joe Root to overhaul Dennis Lillee and take third spot on Australia's list of all-time leading Test wicket-takers.

But his contribution to the spectacle that will be replayed the most is a missed run-out that would have snatched a one-run win and retained the urn.

The most experienced member of Australia's Test squad fumbled a return from Pat Cummins at the non-striker's end.

Cummins later said: "I probably didn’t help him out with the throw there, it could have been a bit better."

Lyon then struck Ben Stokes on the pad with his next delivery but umpire Joel Wilson turned down the lbw appeal.

Ball-tracking replays revealed the decision would have been overturned on review but Australia had already used up both referrals.

Asked if Lyon would be haunted by his mistake in the fourth Test, James Anderson said on a BBC podcast: "I don't think so. It'll be playing on his mind today and the next few days but with a week between (Tests), he'll be hoping he forgets about it.

"Once you get into a fresh Test match, you focus on that and try to forget about everything else.

"Amazing what pressure does ... 99 out of 100 times he'd take that cleanly and take the bails off."

Cummins said Lyon proved his match-winning potential with the delivery to Stokes.

"You just want to win so desperately and the emotion gets to everyone slightly differently," said Cummins.

"We've got to get around him but I think the next ball he bowled after that was three reds, so on another day he's the match-winner. It's that fine line."

Tim Paine literally picked Lyon up off the turf after Stokes hit the winning runs, and Usman Khawaja was next to the spinner to offer support before Lyon embraced Stokes as players shook hands at the end of the match.

Former captain Ricky Ponting has urged Lyon's teammates to lift his spirits.

"We've all had moments like that, where you've dropped a catch or missed a run out or played a bad shot at the wrong time," Ponting told cricket.com.au.

"You do feel bad about it for a while."

Anderson, meanwhile bowled 20 overs for Lancashire's second XI in a friendly match as he attempted to prove his fitness for the fourth Ashes Test.

The 37-year-old is recovering from a calf injury that cut short his involvement in the Ashes opener at Edgbaston and ruled him out of the next two Tests at Lord's and Headingley.

Anderson, who returned in a friendly against a Leicestershire side last week, started the four-day match in Chester with a wicketless six-over burst against a Durham second XI.

England's all-time leading wicket-taker suffered a calf injury while in County Championship action for Lancashire against Durham at Sedbergh School in June.

His fitness was in doubt for the first Test and he managed just four overs on the first morning at Edgbaston, before leaving the field and being sidelined for the rest of the match.

England were said to be keen for Anderson to prove his fitness ahead of any potential return, with this specially-arranged friendly at Chester probably his last opportunity ahead of the fourth Test at Old Trafford which begins on September 4.

There was even more encouragement from his second spell, which began with two overs before lunch and continued for a further seven overs after the interval.

Anderson had figures of 1-16 from his first 15 overs, then returned to take the second new ball.

In all, Anderson claimed 1-38 from his 20 overs, as Durham closed on 4-288.

2019 Qantas Ashes Tour of England

Australia squad: Tim Paine (c), Cameron Bancroft, Pat Cummins, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Peter Siddle, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner.

England squad: Joe Root (c), Moeen Ali, Jimmy Anderson, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes (vc), Olly Stone, Chris Woakes.

First Test: Australia won by 251 runs at Edgbaston

Second Test: Match drawn at Lord's

Third Test: England won by one wicket at Headingley

Tour match: Australians v Derbyshire, August 29-31

Fourth Test: September 4-8, Old Trafford

Fifth Test: September 12-16, The Oval